Abstract
A number of mathematical models of target acquisition have been developed to predict the performance of electro-optical sensor systems. None of these models, however, adequately treat the influence of the background scene on operator tactical target detection and recognition. Most assume a uniform background of some average luminance: a situation that is unlikely to occur in any realistic mission. The failure to include the influence of backgrounds of varying complexity may result in erroneous predictions of performance that are highly optimistic. The reported research was directed toward the issues of background scene complexity. The data are interpreted as evidence for a two-component model of target search and detection.
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