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The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a dual- band sensor fused image improves visual performance compared to a single-band image. Specifically, we compared behavioral performance using images from an uncooled LIMIRS long-wave infrared sensor and a Fairchild image intensified low-light CCD, against these same images after they had been 'fused' by combining both spectral bands into a two-dimensional color space. Human performance was assessed in two experiments. The first experiment required observers to detect target objects presented against naturalistic backgrounds and then identify whether those detected targets were vehicles or persons. The second experiment measured observers' situational awareness by asking them to rapidly discern whether an image was upright or inverted. Performance in both tasks, as measured by reaction times and error rates, was generally best with the sensor- fused images, although in some instances performance with the single band images was as good as performance using the sensor-fused images. Results suggest that sensor fusion may facilitate human performance both by facilitating target detection and recognition, and by enabling higher levels of more general situational awareness and scene comprehension.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only. |
