A flexible and precise imaging tracking system for near-field target using Risley prisms

Fast imaging tracking technology exhibits attractive application prospects in the emerging fields of target tracking and recognition. Smart and compact tracking model with fast and flexible tracking strategy can play a decisive role in improving system performance. In this paper, an effective imaging tracking model from a target to a rotation Risley prism pair embedded with a camera is derived by the beam vector propagation method. A boresight adjustment strategy using the inverse ray tracing and iterative refinement method is established to accomplish the function of fast locating a target. The influence of system parameters on boresight adjustment accuracy and even the dynamic characteristics of the tracking system are investigated to reveal the coupling mechanisms between prism rotation and imaging feedback. The root-mean-square tracking error is below 4.5 pixels by just once adjustment in the static target experiment, while the error in the dynamic experiment is below 8.5 pixels for a target moving at the speed of 50 mm/s, which validates the feasibility of the proposed method for fast imaging tracking applications.