APPLICATIONS OF MICROCOMPUTERS IN INTERACTIVE I~lliGE PROCESSING

Interactive image processing systems are reviewed i and a system incorporating a charge coupled device imaging array, a microprocessor computing element, and a real time image display is described. Applications are given, including the description of a system capable of collecting multispectral images for satellite imagery calibration. A new technique, called shift and add, which allows nearly diffraction limited images to be formed of objects viewed through a randomly distorted, turbulent media is formulated. The successful simulation of the method in an optical laboratory is reported. Results are given which show that if the method is applied in large telescope, optical astr.onomidal imaging, nearly di ffraction limited images may be obtained through the earth's atmosphere. It is shown that this can be achieved even though the telescope may have severe aberrations and when using a much wider bandwidth than that used at present in stellar Speckle Interferometry. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply grateful to Professor R.H.T. Bates, my colleague and supervisor, for his help, encouragement and guidance during the course of the project. Professor Bates negotiated the initial contract for research into solid state sensors which led to the development of the University of Canterbury Image Processing System. The development of the image processing hardware has been a joint effort with Dr R.M. Hodgson. To him goes my gratitude for taking care of research contract reports and for helping make the decisions which led.to our useful image processing system. Mr W.K. Kennedy, also, was especially active in this area during the early design phases. I acknowledge the immense contribution to the hardware and software design and construction made b