TIM Tactical Imaging Model

TIM through-the-sensor simulation of atmosphere, battlefield and sensor effects on infrared scenes.

TIM is a validated image-based infrared sensor model developed by OptiMetrics to aid in the generation and assessment of concept vehicle designs. Starting with high resolution synthetic or measured IR imagery, TIM produces simulated sensor imagery that includes the effects of the sensor and the intervening natural or battlefield induced atmosphere.

There are three versions of TIM that simulate three classes of tactical military sensors:

  • Scanning (1st Gen) Thermal Imagers
  • Focal Plane Array (2nd+ Gen) Thermal Imagers
  • Visual/NIR Image Intensified Imagers

Applications:

TIM Simulation of 155 mm HE round explosion on 1st Gen Thermal Sensor Imagery

TIM is employed whenever sensor or atmospheric effects on imagery is to be evaluated or analyzed. For example, the output sensor imagery can be used to:

  • Compare various sensor technologies
  • Evaluate concept designs for military vehicles
  • Develop and evaluate automatic target recognition and cueing algorithms

The detailed sensor and atmospheric models can also provide a means for:

  • Obscurant design
  • EO system operator training
  • Sensor suite concept design
  • Human observer platform training