Obtaining data from targets using imagery and other remote sensing data

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method of tagging at least one target with an artificial physical tag configured to provide a signature of interest for imaging technology in any region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The method may comprise associating the artificial physical tag to the target.

1 .- 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . A method of tagging at least one target, the method comprising:
 applying to at least one target an artificial physical tag, the artificial physical tag comprising an optical signature of interest in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum,   wherein the artificial physical tag is a material having defined properties in the infrared region, and   wherein the optical signature of interest comprises scattered infrared radiation.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the artificial physical tag is selected from the group consisting of: a coating, a paint, a sticker, a near infrared (NIR) emission selective coating, an invisible paint that has a specific spectral signature at one or more wavelengths, a marking paint that has the defined properties in the infrared region, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the artificial physical tag is at least one of: on the target, embedded in the target, and forming a part of the target. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the at least one target may be tagged with at least one of: two or more differently encoded taggants, and two or more microparticles. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the optical signature of interest is configured to vary over time. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the variance over time is due to a factor selected from the group consisting of: one or more properties of the material, applied voltage, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the applying to at least one target an artificial physical tag further comprises physically associating the artificial physical tag to the at least one target. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the applying to at least one target an artificial physical tag further comprises modifying an electromagnetic spectral signature of any material comprised in the at least one target. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the optical signature of interest uniquely identifies the target. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the optical signature of interest is based on a property of the artificial physical tag selected from the group consisting of: temperature, one or more spectral properties, emissivity, surface roughness, dielectricity, polarization, phase data, specific reemitted energy, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the optical signature of interest uses a property of the artificial physical tag selected from the group consisting of: temperature, one or more spectral properties, emissivity, surface roughness, dielectricity, polarization, phase data, specific reemitted energy, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         93 . A method of obtaining data from at least one target, the method comprising:
 optically detecting, from at least one artificial physical tag applied to at least one of a plurality of surfaces on at least one target, a signature of interest in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum;   acquiring imagery and/or data related to the at least one target; and   generating, by programming running in a processing system, a virtual tag,   wherein the artificial physical tag is a coating, a paint, or a sticker,   wherein the optically detecting further comprises detecting, by a sensing device, scattered infrared radiation, and   wherein the acquired imagery and/or data is obtained directly from the at least one target.   
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein the virtual tag is associated with the at least one artificial physical tag or a portion of the at least one artificial physical tag. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 93 , further comprising:
 processing the acquired imagery and/or data related to the at least one target.   
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the processing the acquired imagery and/or data further comprises:
 organizing the acquired imagery and/or data;   integrating the acquired imagery and/or data with further data to obtain an organized group of information; and   filtering the organized group of information using the virtual tag.   
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 93 , further comprising:
 relating metadata to the virtual tag on the processing system or a further processing system,   wherein the metadata comprises geopositioning data and/or data acquisition time for the at least one target.   
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 93 , further comprising:
 relating the virtual tag to at least one of: the at least one artificial physical tag, a portion of the at least one artificial physical tag, and the signature of interest.   
     
     
         99 . A system for remote sensing of at least one target, the system comprising:
 a set of computer-executable instructions stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, wherein, when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions carry out the steps of:   detecting an optical signature of interest in a region of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the optical signature of interest provided by an artificial physical tag associated with at least one target;   acquiring imagery and/or data associated with the at least one target;   associating metadata with the artificial physical tag, wherein the metadata comprises geopositioning data and/or data acquisition time for the at least one target; and   processing the acquired imagery and/or data to remotely sense the at least one target,   wherein the acquired imagery and/or data is obtained directly from the at least one target.   
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 99 , wherein the acquiring imagery and/or data associated with the at least one target further comprises:
 utilizing at least one of: one or more physical devices, and one or more data repositories,   wherein the one or more physical devices comprises one or more cameras, and   wherein the one or more data repositories is selected from the group consisting of: one or more data groups, one or more databases, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 99 , wherein the system is selected from the group consisting of: one or more aerospace devices, one or more satellites, one or more drones, one or more airplanes, one or more ground cameras, one or more LIDAR sensors, one or more infrared (IR) sensors, one or more databases, and combinations thereof.