Hyperspectral Imaging Archives - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Army to develop an airborne optical payload for surface and subsurface mine and obstacle detection in support of remote breaching operations.

The mine and obstacle detection optical payload (MOD-OP) will be coupled with custom algorithms tailored for detection of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and common obstacles including concertina wire and tetrahedrons. The payload hardware covers a broad spectral range (0.4-2.5 μm and 7.5‑13.5 μm) with three distinct channels including a hyperspectral channel that captures a variety of surface and subsurface target phenomenologies s that the algorithms will exploit to enable detection even in highly cluttered and camouflaged environments. The MOD-OP sensor will operate from a commercial UAS at 250 m altitude and will cover a 4.5×150 m breaching lane in less than 10 s, supporting covert and fast missions that remove the soldier from direct mine-related hazards. The Phase I effort will develop a system model that fully describes the MOD-OP hardware. Test imagery over the relevant spectral ranges will be acquired with an existing sensor and used to modify mine detection algorithms previously developed by PSI. Requirements and a preliminary design for a Phase II prototype will also be generated.

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Schundler
Group Leader, Optical Systems Technologies
eschundler@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the U.S. Army. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Publication

Abstract

Physical Sciences Inc. has developed an ultra-compact shortwave infrared (SWIR) staring mode hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensor with an additional visible full motion video (FMV) capability. The innovative HSI design implements a programmable micro-electromechanical system entrance slit that breaks the interdependence between vehicle speed, frame rate, and spatial resolution of conventional push-broom systems and enables staring-mode operation without cooperative motion of the host vehicle or aircraft. The FMV and HSI components fit within 1000 cm3, weigh a total of 2.1 lbs., and draw 15 W of power. The sensor mechanical design is compatible with gimbal-based deployment allowing for easy integration into ground vehicles or aircrafts. The FMV is capable of achieving NIRS-6 imagery over a 6°×6° field-of-view (FOV) at a 1500 ft. standoff. The SWIR HSI covers a spectral range of 900-1605 nm with a 15 nm spectral resolution, and interrogates a 5°×5° FOV per 1.6 s with a 2.18 mrad instantaneous FOV (1 m ground sample distance at 1500 ft.). A series of outdoor tests at standoffs up to 300 ft. have been conducted that demonstrate the payload’s capability to acquire HSI information. The payload has direct utility towards diverse remote sensing applications such as vegetation monitoring, geological mapping, surveillance, etc. The data product utility is demonstrated through the spectral identification of materials (e.g. foam and cloth) placed in the sensor’s FOV.

Copyright © 2022 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. This paper was presented at the SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 4-7 April, 2022, Orlando, FL (Paper No. 12094-7), and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of SPIE. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.

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