CUBI: a test body for thermal object model validation

CUBI is a rather simple geometrical object used in outdoor experiments with the objective of gathering data which can be utilized in testing and validating object models in the thermal infrared. Since its introduction several years ago, CUBI is gaining interest by an increasing number of research laboratories which are engaged in thermal infrared modelling. Being a member of the worldwide CUBI Forum, the FGAN-FOM has installed a CUBI about 1 year ago. Since then, CUBI surface temperatures are being recorded continuously, together with a set of associated environmental data. The data collected are utilized to explore the capabilities of the FOM Thermal Object code F-TOM. For this purpose, the model was modified to represent CUBI in model space. Likewise, the well-known IR signature prediction model RadTherm/IR was applied to the CUBI problem. In this paper we will present CUBI and the philosophy behind it, the comprehensive CUBI data collection effort at our place, and the development of the two different thermal models. Experimental data and model predictions will be shown and compared. Strengths and weaknesses of the models will be discussed