Sensor model requirements for TAWS/IRTSS operation

Abstract

Possible improvements to the minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD) entered into TAWS are considered. FLIR92 is modified to include atmospheric turbu- lence that depends on height in the atmosphere. Resultant MRTDs are compared to the operational FLIR92 MRTD predictions excluding atmospheric turbulence. The difference in the MRTD is only apparent in the higher frequency regime and is less than 0.05% of the MRTD values for a typical test case. MRTD is calculated by FLIR92 and NVThermIP over desert and marine locations and the resultant MRTDs entered into TAWS to compare maximum detection range. NVThermIP yielded a larger maximum detection range by up to 1.5% over the desert and 2% over water.