Range Performance Modelling and Estimation for Uncooled Monocular Thermal Imagers

A theoretical model for predicting the range performance of a monocular thermal imager (MTI) is developed in this work. System MTF for an MTI is derived and then detection, recognition and identification (DRI) ranges were calculated using Targeting Task Performance (TTP) model. Current mainstreamed as well as futuristic detector and micro-display pixel side lengths are considered in MTF analysis and DRI range calculations. DRI ranges are estimated to be improved when smaller detector and micro-display pixel side lengths are employed. Numerical simulations show that DRI ranges can reach 26.757, 5.95, 4.12 km for an MTI with detector and micro-display pixel side lengths of 5µm each.