Non-imaging distinction of target shapes using a rotating shaped beam

Automatic target recognition, or target discrimination, is an ever-increasing need in both tactical and strategic engagements. Complex imaging systems, such as those based on adaptive optics compensation, are proven but expensive. This paper addresses a specific problem amenable to non-imaging distinction of targets, specifically symmetric and oblong. The approach is to illuminate a target with a rotating oblong beam, either in the near field (tactical) or far field (strategic). The returns from a symmetric object in the absence of pointing errors will be constant while returns from an oblong object will produce a sinusoidal signal, thus distinguishing the objects without imaging. This paper addresses the result of illumination with an oblong beam, starting with a pure beam, a beam corrupted by atmospheric effects and a beam affected by pointing errors referred to as jitter and boresight.