NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM JUNE 1963

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66R00546R000200030003-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 34
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 1, 1963
• Content Type: REPORT

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NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
~. TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
JUNE X963
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THE NPIC'S TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
June 19 3
The Plans and Development Staff is responsible for the technical
development of procedures and equipment to ensure timely, eff'i~ie?nt, and
accurate photographic intelligence production. This responsibility,
reflected in its planning and developmental activities, mirrors the growth
of the Exploitation effort alongside that of Collection, The importance of
this partnership is accented in the latest COMOR Requirements Paper, dated
18 April 1963, which covers the periods up to 1868. At the present time,
the NPIC is involved with about 35 commercial companies in the development
and procurement of specialized photographic exploitation equipment.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
This report presents a narrative summary of the research and develop-
ment efforts of the Plans and Development Staff in the technical develop-
ment field. In discussing equipment development, an attempt has-been made
to present some of the background and planning that precedes such develop-
ment. Together with the Contract Status Report, it will provide a more
complete picture of the Center's development efforts. It should also
provide a means of communicating with those whose backgrounds are non-
technical, but whose duties require a fairly detailed knowledge of a
complex field. Although technical terminology has been avoided to a great
extent, some recourse to technical terms is unavoidable. Periodically as
additional information becomes significant, this report will be up-dated.
Further contributions or comments will be welcome,
For purposes of convenience equipment under development is grouped
into faun sections as follows:
Additional copies may be obtained b~r~.llin~ ex
I. Photo Interpretation, Photogrammetry, Mensuration Devices
II. Photo Reproduction and Processing
III. Data Management and Indexing
IV. Lenses, Studies, and Special Techniques
This report may not be reproduced or disseminated outside of the NPIC
without the express permission of the Chief, Plans and Development Staff.
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ITEM PAGE
SECTION I PHOTO I1V'I'ERPRETATION, PHOTOGRAMMETRY,
MENSURATION DEVICES
(A) VIEFIERS AND READERS
(1)
Photo Interpretation Tools ...................
1
(2)
Richardson Fi]m Reader ........................
2
(3)
(ZI-)
Rear Projection Viewer~Reader .................
Data Block Reader ..................... ............................
7
(6)
Stellar Comparator ............................
(C) MISCELLANEOUS
8
(1)
Change Detector ............................o ?
8
(2)
Microdensitometers for Film Evaluation
and Mensuration .............................
8
SECTION II
PHOTO REPRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
(A) DRYERS AND PROCESSORS
(1)
Roll Film Dryer ...............................
10
(2)
HTA~S Film Processor ..........................
10
(3)
Cut Sheet Processor ...........................
(B) RECTIFIERS, PRINTERS, ENLARGERS
11
(1)
Electronic Photographic Rectifier...>.........
11
(~)
B$eL Rectifier with Super Reprogon Lens........
12
(3)
High Resolution Printers ......................
12
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)
ITEM
SECTION II PHOTO REPRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
(B) RECTIFIERS, PRINTERS, ENLARGERS (Continued)
(~)
(5)
Chip Printer>,..... ... ......,.........., 19
(5) Spatial Filtering Image Viewer< .............. 19
(6) Linear Phaso leer ............................. 20
(C) MISCELLANEOUS
Test and Evaluation Program of the
Image Quality Meter. ........................
Closed Circuit Television ....................
Color Film Studies,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Multi-sensor Evaluation Programs .............
Evaluation of Automatic Image Recognition
20
21
21
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PHOTO INTERPRETATION, PHOTOORAMMETRY, MENSURATION DEVICES
(A) VIEWERS AND READERS
(B) COMPARATORS
(C) MISCEZLANEOUS
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(A) ~FIE4TERS AND READERS
(1) Photo Interpretation Tools
The increasing image quality and film sizes of the typical
photographic source materials being analyzed at the Center indicate
approaching obsolescence of the basic tools presently being used by the
photo interpreter; namely the 7X tube magnifier particularly as a
measuring device and the Zoom 70 microstereoscope. In addition, the
continued use of the Zoom 70 has resulted in the recognition. of the need
for viewing techniques which are not possible with the present equip-
ment. So in the same fashion that the interchangeable, Blip-on,
stereoscopic and monoscopic heads were conceived, new modifications
and auxiliary devices are being developed which are intended to extend
and useful life and area of application of these basic instruments,
It now appears that it will be practical to retrofit the Zoom
70 with 360 image rotation. It is also probable that another clip-on,
rhomboid system can be produced which will increase the available image
separation accommodation to 10 inches.
Another study is being conducted to determine the .feasibility
of developing an optical ret]:ay system mounted in a tube, two of which
could be fastened to corresponding rhomboids of two Zoom 70 's, thus
permitting simultaneous dual viewing of a single stereo pair.
In order to be prepared for viewing photographic records that
definitely exceed the resolution capability of the Zoom 70 an immedi-
ate adaptation of two Bausch and Lomb high performance laboratory
microscopes is being developed (maximum resolution is in excess of 1000
lines per millimeter) which will allow stereoscopic viewing of a wide
variety of film sizes. It is anticipated that this device will furnish
the photo interpreter with adequate information extraction capability
for several years. In turn it should also furnish a performance standard
from which the design objectives for future viewing equipment may be
derived.
Relative dimensions have continued to be a primary clue to
specific identification The tube magnifier has generally been the means
of extracting the basic data. This relativd.ty often can be utilized
without rectification, 'out the resolution and precision of the tube
magnifier is no longer up to the task. Consequently, there are several
developments in progress that will soon be available for evaluation by the
photo interpreters. The first is a fixed power ~-OX microscope fitted with
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a micrometer eyepiece graduated to one hundred-thousandth. of afoot. This
device is interchangeable with the Zoom 70 in its mounting ring. The
second is a group of finely divided stage reticles graduated to two t4~ns~
thousandths of afoot. These are recorded on glass discs about .25"thick
and lay" in diameter. The reticles will be available in various colors
and densities. These devices may be placed under any direct viewing
system, such as the Zoom 70. The last approach being studied is
comparable in size and application to the second system described above,
In this vase the glass dice will be fitted with a screw type micrometer
instead of the fixed reticle. Such a system will obscure less imagery
than a fixed retitle and may provide greater precision,
(2) Richardson Film Reader
This equipment, under development, is basically a photo inter-
pretation instrument with. a built-in measurement capability. In appearance
it will be similar to the Richardson Film Viewer Model 705M now operating
in the NPIC. Howeveru it will have a completely redesigned film transport,
a more elaborate control panel and indexing crosswires mounted to the rear
of the screen, The film transport will be capable of sensing film move-
ment through the film gate to an accuracy of approximately ~ 25 microns
for measurement along the length. of the film. This will be accomplished
by a metering capstan drivee Measurement across the width of the film will
be accomplished by a band drive which moves the entire fi]xn transport back
and forth over the optical axis of the lens perpendicular to the edge of
the film. The crosswires mounted to the rear of the screen will serve as a
fixed refer?ence point relative to the fi]m movement measurement, Readout
will be accomplished by a Digital Accumulator and Transmission Unit, as
described later in this papere
3) 1Vew Rear Projection Reader
Since contracting for the Richardson Reader research and develop-
ment activities have been undertaken for upgrading the various items of
viewing and measuring equipment already in-house, Because of the delays
in the development of the Richardson Reader because of techr~ichl problems
encountered, and development activities for upgrading rear projection
equipment, it was decided to develop in parallel another film reader, For
this instrument, development effort is being devoted to four significant
problem areas, all of which contribute to the final image qualitye It is
this image quality that detenn Ines the degree of information extraction.
The four areas areo
1. The light source and condensing lenses,
2. The film transport and cooling system,
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3. The projection lens system.
4. The viewing screen,
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25X1A5a1 A contract titled High Illu~ination Projection Study, with _
covers the light source, condensing lenses and
film cooling? In this contract the light source itself is being given
intensive study and research; the condenser system is to be examined and
optimum designs presented. has been given authority to 25X1A5a1
have a special light source designed and built, if necessary. The
eontract requires that the light source area be optimized to afford the
proper amount of light so that it exceeds the nominal requirement for
visual viewing purposes; that the heat at the film plane be reduced so
that it does not affect the mensuration requirements of the instrument; and
that a set of criteria be devised and tested to determine if the rear
projection viewer,/reader meets a set of predetermined specifications,
The film transport will be one of the major design phases of the
new reader, since it is an important factor in measurement accuracy as
well as viewing comfort. In addition the film cooling problem will be
~.losely worked out with the as one of the major factors
in designing the transport. 25X1A5a1 25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1 A contra t has been drawn up with
to advance the state of the art in lens designs
for the community by studying the use of nonspherical (aspheric) surfaces
on all of the surfaces of a lens, This lens design applied to projection
lenses will allow a maximum of light transmission, a minimum of aberrations
and distortions and improve the resolution over the entire format of the
area being viewed. In other words, the lens function will be maximized.
25X1A5a1 The screen involves no NPIC-sponsored development activity at
present. A study b covering 114 sample materials having
a potential as screening material or being specifically designed as a
~' screen material was recently completed. Close surveillance is being
exercised over developments in this area. As progress is made in the
various areas, in-house readers will be upgraded by integrating new
,.. criteria into specifications for new models.
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Proposals have been solicited and evaluated for the production
of the new reader.
being prepared.
as been selected and a eontract is presently
3?
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(4) Data Block Read~.:r
In order that the NPIC have a capability for rapid readout of
binary information recorded on film by dot images, the design and fabrica-
tion of a "Data Block Reader" has been conceived to fulfill this
requirement. In addition, if the "Data Block Reader" were .installed at
the film processing site, there would be a significant savings in time
from the method of producing data information now contemplated. Although
the NPIC has a readout capability, the present method is ~~low~;: whereas
the proposed instrumentation will be capable of producing a readout from
either negative or positive film at the rate of 200 feet per minute with
the inherent versatility of recording from film widths of 70 mm to 10 inches.
Data received from the reader can be fed directly into a computer or can be
recorded on media such as typed hard copy, a card deck, punched tape or
magnetic tape.
(5) Electronic Image M+a,nipulation ~liewer
The device under consideration is ess~:ritially an electro~optical
device with CRT presentation which will perform all of the operations
on a photographic image that are normally performed in a photographic
laboratory by darks oom or specialized instrumentation procedu~?es i.e.,
image reversal, gamma change, density contraction or expansion, edge
enhancement, cantouring, differential stretching (rectification.), etc.
Design objectives are general allowing the contractor flexibility to
exercise his imagination and capability in the design and construction
of the multiple capability instrument.
This device is envisioned as an aid to the interpreter ix~
allowing him to perform maximum photographic image manipulation for imme_
diate identi:~f'ications and decisions.
(6) stereoscope Large Light Tables
This instrument, originally conceived in 1958 and finally
delivered as a successful prototype in March 1963, is basically a versa-
tile tripower stereoscope (3X, 6X and. 12X) mounted over a light table
with a motorized film transport system. It is designed for scanning
either two rolls of 92" wide material from conventional cameras or four
rolls from split format 18" x 18" cameras. Actually almost any format
can be scanned on this ia~strument since provision has been made for
operator control of all variables i~a film handling, such as independent
direction of film travel, variable tension, (including reversal),
adjustment for tracking, image rotation, fast of slow movement mirror
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unage viewing. Any width film can be accommodated through the use of
spool adapters from 35 mm wide to 18 inches wide.
(B) COMPARATORS
(1) Versatile Stereoscopic Point Transfer Device
The greatly increased computer capacity of the Center provides a
capability for processing a much greater quantity of precise photographic
data. It follows that means must be provided to assist the analyst in
extracting such data. One of the most significant systems of data avail-
able to the analytical photogrammetrist is the correlation of photographic
images of the same ob,~ect point on different photographs. This includes
the data available on sequential stereoscopic exposures in a single flight
line, convergent stereoscopic coverage, adjacent overlap areas between flight
lines, coincidental overlap from different missions,"and overlap of expos-
ures taken with different camera systems. The datta required for this type
of analytical computation are precision rectangular coordinates of the
co~?responding photo image points. Extraction of this data necessitates
precise cross-identification of these points and measurement on a
precision comparator, The Nistri Stereo comparators TA-3 and RIC-1 were
designed to accomplish both these tasks simultaneously, but this equip-
ment does not accommodate the wide range of situations characteristic
of reconnaissance photography. Stereoscopic point marking devices have
been built b y Wild, called the PiTG-1 and PiJG-2 but these. are also limited
to very special applications.
It thus became apparent that full utilization of the precision,
rear projection, roll-film comparators presently being developed for the
Center, required associate development of a versatile stereoscopic point
transfer device.
Invitations have been extended. for proposals for the development
of such a device. It will consist of a versatile, roll-film, scanning
stereoviewer fitted with a precision point-marking system.. The viewing
system will be capable of handling one or two rolls of film from 35 mm
to 92 inches in width Independent zoom magnification of each. eye-train
from 5X to 125X is required. Maximum resolution is to be 625 lines per
millimeter. Highly versatile optical and mechanical seanning motions
will be incorporated. The point marking system will provf.de minute
round marks about 20 microns in diameter at the selected image points.
These marks will be accompanied by a more prominent "flagging" mark and
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an identificatian number. They will be readily visible in the comparator
and will be the basis of reference for the position measurement, which
may be accomplished manually by the operator or automatically by a
system within the comparator. By these means it is intended that the
Center will be equipped to extract greater quantities of meaningful data
from a wide variety of photographic sources.
(.2) GIANT Comparator
GIANT. is the name given to a complex, automated rear projectian
comparator developed for the Center in April 190. The GIANT was
intended to be a Nadir Determination Device which would automatically
track the boundary between the atmosphere and the earth in photographs
of the apparent horizon. In addition it was to be used as a rear pro-
jection comparator with automated read-out including a visual digital
display and a paper tape punch. Image positioning was accomplished
through joy stick control.
In actual operation deficiencies in the operation became
apparent. It was learned that the resolution of the tracking system
exceeded the resolution of the horizon image so that this aspect of the
system never functioned properly. In addition, the enlargement, resolution
and brightness of the projected image were inadequate; the positioning
system was not properly coordinated to the precision of the measuring engine;
and the film transport system was designed for only 70 mm film size
accommodation.
Since the GIANT did possess some good basic elements - namely,
the 9" x 9" Mann Comparator, an excellexat cabinet and a good electronic
counter for the automated digitizing system - and since there is continu-
ing need for good precision comparators, it was decided that an investigation
into the feasibility of modifying the GIANT to correct these deficiencies
should be undertaken, A coxitract for accomplishing this investigation
was let in Tune 1962. It was felt from the outset that a good general
purpose rear projection comparator could be salvaged from the GIANT. It
now appears that it will, indeed, be feasible to modify the GIANT into
a good rear projection comparator. Furthermore, incorporating an
automatic star image centering system into the comparator is proposed.
Thus it appears that the GIANT may yet become a useful instrument for the
Center.
(3) Nuclear Research Instruments Dual-Screen Comparator
This machine is a high precision film comparator with a capacity
to measure format areas up to 92" by 30". The measuring sensors are a
modification of the Ferranti Moire Fringe system with a ]east-count o~F
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two-microns. Film transport is accomplished by air bearings instead of
the conventional lapped method
Operator viewing is accomplished by a simultaneous two-screen
presentation. The larger screen, 40" x 40", is used for scanning
purposes, with a fixed magnification of 8x. The smaller screen,
approximately 12" x 17", is used for measuring purposes and presents 8x,
16x, or 30x magnification. The area of high magnification.is indicated on
the low magnification image. In addition, a crosshair is also projected
on the ,small screen as a fixed reference point
Illumination is provided by a 2500 watt water-copled,.mercury
vapor arc lamp which provides illumination for the crosshair projection
as well as the image projected on both screens. A unique vacuum film
clamping and transport device will accommadate film widths from 70 mm to
~2" in roll farm. Bata reduction is accomplished by connection of the
comparator directly on line with the 490 UflIIV~.O computer. A description of
a similar data reduction system follows later in this paper under a Bigital
Accumulator and Transmission Unit.
(4) Mann Comparator
This machine, under development, is a modified Mann Model 880
two-coordinate comparator capable of accepting film formats up to 18" x
18". Measurement is accomplished on both axes by precision .ground and
lapped lead screws. Readout is available either on a coded disc which. is
directly readable by the operator, or from a position resolver which, when
connected to wn electronic digital accumulator, will prov~,de paper tape
and typewriter print out Viewing is accomplished by a microscope assembly
whi'~h gives a coxbtinuously variable magnification of 12X to 40Xe A cross-
hair is constantly visible in the optical pathd The modifications consist
of a selsyn-drive system for the secondary axis, a ~elsyn-driven high-
intensity light source, and provisions for accepting a projection viewing
screen>
(5) Chip Comparator
Th~.s 3.tem is under contract negotiation. Basically it will be
designed to accept a stereo pair of 70 mm by 100 mm chips with a usable
image area of 70 mm square. The remair_ing 70 mm x 30 mrri area will contain
information in binary form to relate the ship to the frame from which
it was produced and contain the coordinate relationship of the ship to
the principal point of the full format.
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Precision measurement will be provided by an interferometer
capable of providing a two-micron least-count over the entire format
area. Data reduction will be provided by the Digital Accumulator and
Transmission Unit described elsewhere in this paper. This data-trans-
mission unit will have the capability of extracting automatically the
binary encoded information on the chip. Viewing will be provided by a
modified Bausch and Lomb Dynazoom optical microscope system with fixed
crosshair in the optical path,
(6) Stellar Comparator
The Stellar comparator will be a high precision rear pro-
jection comparator with a 92" x 92" usable measuring area. Positioning
will be semiautomatic with the operator manually (by ,joystick) placing
the stellar image within the field of the autometric capability and the
automatic lock-on servo-system then taking over and determining the
center of the stellar mass. The requirements for this instrument are
still under consideration and firm design specifications have not been
drawn up yet for soliciting proposals.
(C ) MISCELLANEOTJS
(1) Change Detector
The Change Detector is a device that will automatically register,
compare, and display photographic data from two views of a common area
taken at different times, presenting visually the changes that have
taken place between the times the two photographs were taken.. Studies
have been made of the optical and electrical requirements of the various
components and a breadboard model has been designed and fabricated,
successfully demonstrating the feasibility of the principle.
The current design of the Change Detector has a_resolution
limitation of 24 line pairs per millimeter. Recent stud3.es have shown
that the resolution capability can be increased to at least 50 line pairs
per millimeter. Further increase in resolution would require an advance
in the state-of-the-art,
(2) Microdensitometer for Film Evaluation and Mensuration
The NPIC needs a capability in the field of microdensitometry
to adequately fulfill .requirements levied by other facilities ~n evalua-
tion of original negative, duplicate negative and duplicate positive
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film materials. To date only a class II instrument is available. For
film evaluation another microdensitometer is on order which will allow
use of full frame 70 mm film without the necessity for production of
film chips. In the near future there will be available a class I in-
strument that will incorporate the necessary accuracies in direct density
determination, synchronized chart and image scan travel and variable scan
spat sizes to allow mensuration procedures to be interpreted after its
scan over a film transparency. It is the function of this instrument to
be as versatile as possible by incorporating such features as at fine
screen viewing during scanning of the film image, a capability for recording
a photomicrograph at any point along the scan or obtaining a visual
readout of density in addition to having a capability for coupling the
output through a computer.
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PHOTO REPRODUCTION AND PROCESSING
(A) DRYERS.AND PROCESSORS
(B) RECTIFIERS' PRINTERS, .AND ENLARGERS
(C) MISCELLANEOUS
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(A) DRYERS AND PROOESSORS
(1) Roll Film Dryer
:From 1957 to January 1963, the roll film dryer, manufactured
by Heico, was used continuously by NPIC, and was the only film dryer
in use during this period of time. This dryer accepted all widths of
aerial roll film from 70 mm to 92" and could be operated continuously
at speeds up to 30 feet per minute. 3t used the principle of dehydrated
air rather than heat to remove the moisture from the processed film.
The dehydration equipment necessary to operate this dryer was a size-
able package of considerable weight utilizing ~+5 KVA of electrical
energy to regenerate the desicanto
We are purchasing a new roll film dryer which .can be attached
to the HTA~l Film processor or can be used separately with other equip-
ments This new dryer employs the air !bearing principle in which the
film is transported through the drying cabinet on a cushion of air which
is warmed slightly above ambient temperatures. This dryer will consume
approximately 25 amperes of electrical energy at 230 volts and will
achieve proper drying and conditioning of the roll film to ambient RH
measurements at approximately 30 feet per minutes The dryer occupies only
1`5 the space of the former equipments
(2) HTA/S .Film Processor
The HTA~5 roll film processor (under development) is designed
to accommodate all widths of roll film from 70 mm to 92 inches, and
will employ a new principle of film transport in which the exposed film will
pass through the various chemical solutions and through the dryer by the
principle of liquid and air bearingso This will permit the film~?to be
transported from dry to dry untouched on ea,ther emulsion or base sided
Since the liquid bearings form a cushion for transporting the
film they will also provide excellent agitation and turbulence of the
chemicals in close proximity to the film emulsions. This type of
turbulence will allow for the shortest processing cycle and uniform
processing across the width of the films By employing the liquid and
air bearing principles virtually no tension or friction is ind~,ced and in
the absence of tension there will be no tracking problems throughout the
processor and dryer.
A console for the unexposed film is designed to accommodate an
entire mission of film so tYaat it may be processed uncute Following the
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drying cycle the film will be rewound in a similar console or in one or
two smaller take up reelso This processor when installed at the NPIC
will provide the capability of high quality processing of original
materials when requiredo
(3) Cut Sheet Processor
A cut sheet film processor (under development) will be designed
to accommodate all film sizes from 8 x 10 inches to 30 x ?+0 inches. This
processor will have three separate developer compartments: one for half
tone chemistry, one for line, and the third for continuous tone. The
operator carp select the eompartment to be used and the film will be
properly routed to that developer eompartment for processing; or, the
films can be notched or coded and be transported automatically through
the short-stop fixing, washing and drying compartments and emerge ready
for use. It is envisioned that the three copy cameras and the several
vacuum printing frames currently in use at the NPIC will generate
sufficient quantities of cut sheet film materials to make the operation
of this type processor both economical and efficient.
(B) RECTIFIERS, PRINTERS, AND ENLARGERS
(l) Electronic Photographic Rectifier
The Hycon H-229 Electronic Photographic Rectifier is designed
to rectify photography from a wide range of panoramic or framing cameras.
The Hycon equipment does not require focusing control changes during
operation or between successive rectifications. This feature enables
the H-229 Photographic Rectifier to obtain better photographic resolution
and accuracy with more versatile performance than other rectifiers.
Additional enlargement is not required to establish a ccammon scale
-between rectified photographs originally taken at different altitudes.
An H-229 rectifier consists of three units: reader, printer, and
control condole. Photographic transparencies are located on the reader
platen. A precision flying spot scanner (television scanner) is used to
convert the image to electrical signals by light spot scans. ..Scans are
computer controlled to pick up a succession of line images parallel in
the abject plane.
Modification of the H-229 is contracted. As proposed the
rectifier will be able to rectify all imagery, including that of the moon
and other planets, as well as that from convergent panoramic cameras.
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(2) B & L Rectifier with Super Reprogon Lens
The existing Reprogon lenses manufactured by Wild Heerbrugg for
the VG-1 enlarger has been expanded in focal length for use with the B & L
Two Stage Rectifier which is presently equipped with Metrogon lenses. The
Metrogon lenses have a resolution of approximately ~+0 lines per millimeter
on axis, The Super Reprogon lens will resolve approximately 100 lines per
millimeter with virtually no distortion. In the single stage rectifica-
tion mode up ~o and including 45 degrees the Super Reprogon lens will
improve the photographic quality of the resultant image by a factor of
approximately 2. While in the 2-stage mode with extremely high tilts the
image improvement over the Metrogan lens system will not be significant.
(3) High Resolutis~n Printer
Several of the current programs at the NPIC require the genera-
tion of additional copies of film in the form of duplicate positives and
negatives. One piece of equipment essential to the duplication process is
the photographic printer?. In the past, equipment has been developed employ-
ing roll film continuous printing techniques in which the original
negative and the reproduction material are brought together and, passed
around a drum through which light is passed by means of a slit aperture.
However, the amount of resolution that can be transferred by this
continuous flow printing techniques is affected by the shape of the drum
and the principal radius. Since the material on the outerside must
necessarily travel at a .faster rate than the material in direct contact
with the drum, regardless of the size of diameter of the drum., an equal
resolution transfer cannot be accomplished.
A characteristic of developed silver images is. that the emulsion
has,.a.sur.face topography. This fact precludes total contact between the
negative and printing materials. One obvious means of reducing these
voids of intimate contact is by means of a vacuum system. fl~o.ll film
printers cannot use vacuum contact. However, a vacuum printer (the step-
and-repeat type) is being designed to cope with resolution exceeding
X00 lines per millimetero With proper light source design, such a
printer can be made to operate at speeds equivalent to 25 feet per minute
when compared -to continuous printing. The printer will be designed to
accommodate all film widths from 70 mm to 92 inches and up to 50 inches in
format length. It will have the added advantage of printing several
copies from each negative frame as programmed, thus substantially reducing
the wear and tear on the original negative.
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Interchangeable light sources will permit the use of non-silver
and color materials.
(~+) Chip Printer
Preliminary investigation is under way to produce a photographic
chip printer with the capability of putting the necessary information in
binary farm on a chip designed for use in the stereo chip comparator.
This chip will be 70 rnm x 100 mm with a 30 mm x 70 mm data block area and
70 mm square image area. Until this item is developed only partial
utilization of the Univac 490 can be realized.
(5) Precision Enlarger ~x-12x7
In addition to those already in-house, an enlarger soon to be
delivered is the Precision Enlarger r3x-12x7. This precision enlarger is
designed to cover a 70 mrri square negative format with a magnification range
of from 3 to 12 diameters enlargement with a fluid plastic film gate to
accept all widths of negatives from 70 mm through 92 inches. The enlarger
will be of autofocus design with a vacuum type easel to accommodate both
film and paper reproductions, The negative, lens and easel planes will
be plane parallel to within one minute of arc throughout the entire
magnification range, It will be equipped with two light scurces: a
tungsten source for use with color materials, and a high-intensity mercury
source for black and white material. This enlarger will fill the gap
between the Wild VG-1 and the Kodak 10-20-40. The present optical system
will have a resolution of approximately 150 lines per millimeter and
provision has been made in the design to accommodate a lens of higher
resolving power when such a lens becomes available.
(C) MISCELLANEOUS
(1) Non-Silver Reproduction Materials
As the state-of-the-art advances in the fieldof optics and in
the field of conventional silver emulsions to the paint where 200 to 300
lines per millimeter is being recorded and delivered from operational
systems, the need arises for a reproduction material which approaches 1000
lines per millimeter so that no appreciable loss ire resolution ~.s incurred
from the original negative. Unfortunately, to gain higher resolution in
conventional silver halide materials, the silver particles must be made
microscopically small with a resultant loss of speed and sensitivity
Conventional silver halide emulsions have been manufactured which can accept
1000 lines per millimeter, however, the extremely longer exposure times
necessary to record this information make it infeasible for use as a
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reproduction material. In addition, there is very often an attendant
loss in tonal or density scale in these high resolution materiels.
In recent months several non-silver reproduction materials have
been developed which are virtually grainless and are capable of resolving
as much as 1000 lines per millimeter. These materials are usually dye
sensitive and react to a very narrow spectral energy band. Some of these
materials - such as Kalvar, Diazo and Horizons - appear to be promising as
reproduction media. All of these materials require special printing
techniques which will hive to be developed as operational equipment if
they are to be applicable. It is generally accepted that the reproduction
material must have inherently three to five times the resolution capability
of the original recorded data. These unconventional non-silver materials,
as well as the printing equipment, are currently being investigated since
we are now on the threshold of the 200-lines-per-millimeter input materials.
l4.
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SECTION III
DATA MANAGEMENT .AND INDEXING
(A) DATA PROCESSING DEVICES
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(A) DATA PROCESSING DEVICES
(1) Digital Accumulator and Transmission Unit
This item is still in the proposal stage. It will, be an universal
readout device for the various mensuration devices which. will transmit
information to the computer on operator command via a Dataphone subset.
In simplified description it will consist of:
a. A control panel sub-assembly made up of the necessary
switches for the operator to generate the required indicative
data, and numerical display unit.
b. An input circuit to take the pulse train or analog
signal from the mensuration device and feed.
c. A digital accumulator to determine the numerical
difference from reference.
d. A buffer storage unit to maintain the numerical value
independent of the accumulator during readout.
e. A synchronized transmitter to transfer the data from
the buffer storage unit and indicative data switches to the
computer via the Dataphone on command of the operator.
Also associated with this unit but in no way connected with it is a
Teletype Model 28 send-receive page printer to receive the computer-
reduced reply from the data transmitted.
(2) Production X, Y Plotter
This instrument (under development) will be used on line with
the Univac 490 to handle the general purpose plotting requirements, parti-
cularly coverage plots based on ephemeris c~information. It will consist
of a 60 x 60 inch plotting surface, capable of producing overlays for the
largest maps generally available. All functions, including vacuum hold-
down and paper advance will be under computer control, requiring a minimum
of operator attention. The logic of the system is digital and no analog
techniques are used.
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(3) Remote Station Plotter
This equipment (under development) will be a continuous drum-
feed plotter capable of plotting data up to 292 inches wide and 120 feet
long under direct computer control It is manufactured by ,California
Computer Products and is designed to accept data from a Dataphone so it
can be operated at any location in the building where there is a computer
outlet. It will be used as a remote station plotter in conjunction with
the film readers and chip comparators.
16.
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SECTION IV
LENSES, STUDIES, AND SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
(A~ LENSES
(B~ SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
(C~ MISCELLANEOUS
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effort has been made to evaluate the large number of sensors in relation
to their value as intelligence acquisition instruments. Racent studies
of the relative values of various sensors have shown that ~1) the
intelligence value of a combination of multi-sensors including panoramic
photography is significantly greater than that of a combination not
:containing panoramic photography; (2) the additive use of radar, infra-
red and side looking radar was not found to enhance the intelligence
values of the panoramic photography when used alone.
Sensors other than photography have very poor resolution and
therefore should be synchronized with photography to acquire location and
detail. The state-af-the-art today in multi-sensor systems is such that
every sensor must be programmed or tuned to receive a specific frequency
and band-width of radiation. In addition, some sensors. can gather in-
formation in situations that would make others nearly blind. This means
that each. sensor must be sent to gather a specific bit of intelligence
based on sensor characteristics, existing conditions, and knowledge of
basic characteristics of the target. Based on knowledge now available
it is anticipated that sensors other than photography would produce
little, though spectacular, intelligence. Acquisitions from multi-sensor
programs other than photography will probably be utilized very..sparingly
until such time as evaluation studies have .shown that the value of multi-
sensor acquisitions exceed the value found during current evaluation studies.
The Plans and Development Staff will continue_to evaluate new
and existing intelligence acquisition sensors which promise to provide
information not now available from photography. It is ~.n.ti:C,]-gated that
recommendations will be made to acquisition elements for experiments
designed to allow the photo analyst to make a really meaningful compari-
son of new sensors and photography.
(5) Evaluation of Automatic Photographic Image Recognition Systems
The increasing development of both the quantitative and quali-
tative aspects of photographic intelligence requirements and acquisition
capabilities inc1.icates rapidly increasing demands for improvements in
exploitation technology. A particularly significant factor is the dis-
proportionately large manpower requirement characteristics of the
exploitation phase. It has become obvious that a large-scale, high-
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priority, development program for automation of the exploitation phase
is required.
Developments in this realm may be divided into two i~asic
categorieso
(1) Automation which assists the analyst in film handling
and viewing,
(2) Automation which assists the analyst in scanning and
evaluating the photo image.
Although there are urgent requirements in both categories, it is
apparent that a performance plateau has been reached. This plateau is
basically defined by the available manpower and the limited efficiency of
using highly-trained manpower for first-phase scanning of tremendous
quantifies of negatively sign~:ficant or highly redundant photographic
images. It is thus implied that a definite limit in the capacity i'or
first-phase readout is being approached and that this limit, will not be
significantly changed by any developments in the first category.
F'or this reason members of the Plans and Development Staff have
started a comprehensive, accelerated program for searching out and
evaluating all the automatic image detection and recognition systems
presently being proposed, developed or produced.
Initial results of this investigation indicate that important
strides are being made in this field. One of the most promising areas of
potential development for such automation is in the realm of "biological
computers." This terminology is used to describe computer systems which
generally consist of a sensory matrix, connected by a means of statisti-
cally significant coupling to the input of a digital computer, which is
programmed in a fashion simulating brain mechanisms. Such systems are
capable of being "taught" to recognize, with a high degree of reliability
and discrimination a specific stimulus falling on the sensory matrix.
The PERCEPTRON which was developed by the Cornell Aeronautical
Laboratory in 1958 is the generally accepted forerunner of .these systems.
since that time many related systems have been developed by other
organizations, and continued improvements have been made in .the PERCEPTRON.
The common denominator of limitation in all these systems appears to be
the need for prenormalization, or standardization of scale anal
orientation of tY~ image before it is presented to the sensory matrix. The
complexity of the "biological computer" system precludes its utilization on
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the mass of redundancy required to identify a single image in all its
possible variations of scale and attitude. However, the potential
capability of these systems for fine discrimination of photo images
appears to be accepted. Therefore, most of the current development
programs related to these systems are in the realm of prenormalization
of the image.
Other means of image recognition such as correlation, shape
analysis and unique power spectra gene-rated by various scanning techniques
must also be evaluated.
A ~~ntative first phase goal of this program is the development
of a system which will rapidly scan large quantities of film and accura-
tely designate those photographs which contain images of probable
intelligence value .
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