Ensuring validity of radiometric temperature measurements obtained in the field using infrared imagers

Abstract

When a military aircraft becomes the target of an approaching infrared seeker missile, it relies on infrared counter-measures to serve as decoys and to confuse the missile. The Optronic Sensor Systems (OSS) group at CSIR-DPSS is involved in computer simulation work from which the protection effectiveness of such counter-measures is predicted. To provide data based on which the simulation software can make realistic predictions, researchers at OSS perform field characterization on infrared counter-measures using radiometric measurements. This is done in the field, achieved via non-contact temperature measurement method, using infrared cameras. To allow correction for the effect of the atmospheric transmission, reference measurements are performed on a blackbody located 450 m away in the field. In this paper we present the temperatures measured on the blackbody using Jade infrared imager, namely medium wave infrared (MWIR) imager operating in the 3-5 micron, band and a Fluke 574 precision handheld infrared thermometer. The measurement with the handheld infrared thermometer was done over a short distance, approximately 15 cm. The results of the infrared cameras versus that of the infrared thermometer are compared to ensure validity of the infrared imager temperature measurement on the blackbody. This serves to provide confidence in the results obtained by the infrared imager.