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Detection and tracking algorithms for a Hemispherical Optical Sensor Tracker (HOST) are described. The HOST unit provides simultaneous and continuous viewing of a region spanning 360° of azimuth and -7° to zenith in elevation. Maximum likelihood derived, multi-frame detection algorithms are described for use with a stationary HOST surveillance sensor. A multi-target tracking architecture is also described. Due to the nature of the optical system, tracking in Line Of Sight (LOS) angular coordinates is much easier than using pixel coordinate tracking. This in turn provides an opportunity for multi-HOST unit triangulation to obtain 3D position estimates. This paper provides a brief overview of the HOST optical system, describes the multi-frame detection algorithm, the pixel to LOS conversion, and the multi-target track algorithm.

Within the last decade, the declassification of adaptive optics techniques and systems developed for defense purposes opened new opportunities to the astronomical community. Since the military resolution requirements are not qualitatively different from the astronomical ones, astronomers may profit from the quite sizable investments already made. On the other hand, the astronomical observations are much more demanding than the military ones with respect to the required accuracy, stability and sensitivity. In 1994, after contacts made during an adaptive optics meeting in Munich, we started a joint project to observe the ejected matter from the luminous blue variable (LBV) P-Cygni with the AMOS compensated imaging system (CIS). In this paper we describe the problems encountered and the experience gained in more than two years of operations with CIS. The satisfactory results obtained so far prompted us to plan a more ambitious program. We aim to profit from the acquired know-how for preparing a proposal of astronomical observations designed in such a way of taking the utmost advantage of the capabilities of the new USAF AEOS adaptive optics system.