Military sensor technology. Modern developments and challenges

In this paper the authors illustrate developments in sensor technology with a number of examples. From their own research they discuss radar, image processing and sensor networks. Radar performance is affected by propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves. Experience has shown that this may lead to considerable errors and even failure to detect threatening targets. Characterization of these propagation effects helps to determine their consequences and to counter or even utilize them. Image processing in a maritime environment provides challenges with complex variable backgrounds and a diversity of objects and appearance. This requires characterization of meteo and environmental effects and development of new image analysis algorithms. Finally the authors consider networks of large numbers of sensors that are made possible by ongoing miniaturization and offer new deployment possibilities but also pose new challenges because the limited resources of individual sensors must be overcome by efficient network organization. In combination this offers an overview of limits of current technologies and how attempts are made to overcome these.