IMAGO offers a suite of proven video tracking technologies, developed and refined over decades of operational deployments at ranges and test facilities worldwide. Central to this offering is the IMAGO XG Video Tracker — a high-performance, software-defined tracking system engineered for the most demanding scenarios, including high-clutter environments, payload separation events, and complex multi-stage flight profiles.
The specifications below describe the standard capabilities and available options of the IMAGO XG Video Tracker software.
Tracking Algorithms
Three proprietary tracking algorithms are provided as standard. The operator selects the algorithm best suited to the prevailing scenario; switching between algorithms does not interrupt an active track.
| Contrast | Tracks the target by separating it from the background based on contrast differences. Well suited to faint or low-feature targets operating in lower-clutter environments. |
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| Feature | Tracks a user-selected feature pattern on the target, remaining effective as the target manoeuvres and changes aspect. Target designation is via mouse or touch-screen. |
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| Grey-Scale Correlation | Tracks the grey-level intensity pattern of the target region. Effective for targets exhibiting subtle contrast or significant changes in orientation. |
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Target Acquisition
| Sit-and-Wait | The system continuously monitors the full field of view and acquires the target automatically upon entry into the scene. No operator action is required. |
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| Operator Designation | The operator designates the target directly within the live video image via mouse click or touch input. Tracking is initiated immediately upon designation. |
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Detection & Track Window
| Detection Window | 100% of the field of view. The IMAGO XG processes the full image frame for target detection with no windowing restriction. |
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| Track Window | The full field of view is maintained throughout active track, enabling the system to follow targets across the entire image plane. |
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| Target Switching | The operator may designate a new target within the live image at any time via mouse or touch input, without interrupting the active track. |
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Tracking Rate & Video Inputs
| Standard tracking rate | 60 Hz |
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| High-speed options | 90 Hz or 120 Hz (Option) |
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| Video interfaces | CoaXPress, GigE Vision, PAL, RS-170 / CCIR |
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| Sensor switching | Real-time switching between video sources with no dropped frames and no loss of track for most sensor configurations. |
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Pan / Tilt Control
| Maximum velocity | 90°/s |
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| Maximum acceleration | 120°/s2 |
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| Control modes | Closed-loop auto-track, joystick rate control, and position cueing from radar or an external sensor. |
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| Break-lock detection | Loss-of-track is detected automatically; system response is operator-configurable. |
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| Travel limits | Software-defined pan/tilt boundaries restrict motion to the operator-designated coverage zone, preventing out-of-scope movement. |
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| Waypoints | Multiple named waypoints, each with optional operator-assigned comments. The system slews to the selected position on command. |
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System Outputs
| Time stamp | IRIG-B or GPS/UTC synchronised to 100 μs precision. |
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| Tracking state | Tracking / not tracking / designation. |
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| Target angular position | Azimuth and elevation angle. |
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| Track quality | Numeric quality indicator output each frame. |
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| Range and position | Range, 3-D position, and velocity when an INS, GPS, or external range source is present. |
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| External trigger | TTL input for initiating auto-tracking, a Ballistic Predictor slew, or other programmable system activity. |
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| Survey / alignment | NEU Cartesian survey with WGS-84 conversion; available survey methods include NEU, delegate, and coarse. |
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Time Synchronisation — IRIG-B / GPS
| Accuracy | 100 μs referenced to an external IRIG-B or GPS time pulse. |
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| Holdover | An on-board oscillator sustains timing for up to 30 minutes following loss of the external time reference. |
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| Supported formats | IRIG-B, GPS, UTC. |
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Optional Modules
| iPETA (Option) | Instantaneous Position of Exploding Target Algorithm. Automatically classifies and tracks the dispersing components of an exploding target immediately following detonation. |
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| Timeliner (Option) | An event-driven scripting engine that automatically adjusts tracker parameters at pre-defined points in a flight sequence, eliminating the need for operator intervention during critical events. |
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| Dual Gate / Payload Separation (Option) | Automatically transitions tracking from the primary target (e.g., launch vehicle) to a secondary target (e.g., released payload or sub-munitions) at the moment of separation. |
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| Expected Launch Angle Setup (Option) | Pre-positions the pan/tilt to the predicted rocket flight direction prior to ignition, minimising system reaction time at launch. |
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| Ballistic Predictor (Option) | Computes the ballistic trajectory and drives the pedestal to the predicted target position during periods of coast or sensor obscuration. |
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| RADAR / Position Cueing (Option) | Accepts a 3-D position cue via serial or Ethernet interface and slews the system to within approximately 0.1° of the cued position. Continuous cueing maintains the slew until optical track is established. |
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| INS System (Option) | Gyro-stabilised inertial navigation system providing real-time platform orientation and position. Incorporates fibre-optic gyroscopes and GPS/GNSS dual-antenna RTK. |
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| FLIR Camera Integration (Option) | Extends tracking capability to the infrared spectrum, with dead-pixel mapping, zoom lens control, and frame-accurate video recording. |
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| Remote Lens Control (Option) | Enables remote adjustment of Canon lens focus and aperture from the operator workstation. |
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| Dual Display Interface (Option) | Two simultaneous video feeds presented on a single display. Target designation and acquisition can be performed independently in either video channel. |
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