Telops has a 20-year history in the design, construction, and deployment of thermal infrared hyperspectral imaging systems through the legacy Hyper-Cam line. Advances in critical subsystem technologies has allowed Telops to develop the next-generation of hyperspectral imaging systems with significant reductions in size, weight, and power requirements while maintaining imaging and data quality performance. This reduction in SWaP requirements yields a significant increase in deployment flexibility, allowing for increased capability for collecting actionable hyperspectral data of remote or difficult-to-access targets. Also taking benefit of the most recent data processing capabilities from modern electronics and computer systems, the real-time data analysis has enabled unprecedented ease of use and conviviality without compromise to performance. This presentation will serve as an overview of the system architecture and analysis capabilities of three next-generation thermal infrared hyperspectral imaging products. These platforms include a tripod-based system for ground measurements; an airborne platform designed for small, fixed-wing aircraft; and a small-footprint system designed for deployment on a quadcopter or other small UAV.
Heat transfers are involved in many phenomena such as friction, tensile stress, shear stress and material rupture. Among
the challenges encountered during the characterization of such thermal patterns is the need for both high spatial and
temporal resolution. Infrared imaging provides information about surface temperature that can be attributed to the stress
response of the material and breaking of chemical bounds. In order to illustrate this concept, tensile and shear tests were
carried out on steel, aluminum and carbon fiber composite materials and monitored using high-speed (Telops FASTM2K)
and high-definition (Telops HD-IR) infrared imaging. Results from split-Hopkinson experiments carried out on a
polymer material at high strain-rate are also presented. The results illustrate how high-speed and high-definition infrared
imaging in the midwave infrared (MWIR, 3 – 5 μm) spectral range can provide detailed information about the thermal
properties of materials undergoing mechanical testing.
There are many types of natural gas fields including shale formations that are common especially in the St-Lawrence Valley (Canada). Since methane (CH4), the major component of shale gas, is odorless, colorless and highly flammable, in addition to being a greenhouse gas, methane emanations and/or leaks are important to consider for both safety and environmental reasons. Telops recently launched on the market the Hyper-Cam Methane, a field-deployable thermal infrared hyperspectral camera specially tuned for detecting methane infrared spectral features under ambient conditions and over large distances. In order to illustrate the benefits of this novel research instrument for natural gas imaging, the instrument was brought on a site where shale gas leaks unexpectedly happened during a geological survey near the Enfant-Jesus hospital in Quebec City, Canada, during December 2014. Quantitative methane imaging was carried out based on methane’s unique infrared spectral signature. Optical flow analysis was also carried out on the data to estimate the methane mass flow rate. The results show how this novel technique could be used for advanced research on shale gases.
Heat transfers are involved in many phenomena such as friction, tensile stress, shear stress and material rupture. Among the challenges encountered during the characterization of such thermal patterns is the need for both high spatial and temporal resolution. Infrared imaging provides information about surface temperature that can be attributed to the stress response of the material and breaking of chemical bounds. In order to illustrate this concept, tensile and shear tests were carried out on steel, aluminum and carbon fiber composite materials and monitored using high-speed (Telops FAST-M2K) and high-definition (Telops HD-IR) infrared imaging. Results from split-Hopkinson experiments carried out on a polymer material at high strain-rate are also presented. The results illustrate how high-speed and high-definition infrared imaging in the midwave infrared (MWIR, 3 – 5 μm) spectral range can provide detailed information about the thermal properties of materials undergoing mechanical testing.
There are many types of natural gas fields including shale formations that are common especially in the St-Lawrence Valley (Canada). Since methane (CH4), the major component of shale gas, is odorless, colorless and highly flammable, in addition to being a greenhouse gas, methane emanations and/or leaks are important to consider for both safety and environmental reasons. Telops recently launched on the market the Hyper-Cam Methane, a field-deployable thermal infrared hyperspectral camera specially tuned for detecting methane infrared spectral features under ambient conditions and over large distances. In order to illustrate the benefits of this novel research instrument for natural gas imaging, the instrument was brought on a site where shale gas leaks unexpectedly happened during a geological survey near the EnfantJesus hospital in Quebec City, Canada, during December 2014. Quantitative methane imaging was carried out based on methane’s unique infrared spectral signature. Optical flow analysis was also carried out on the data to estimate the methane mass flow rate. The results show how this novel technique could be used for advanced research on shale gases.
Optical fiber lasers offers the advantage of being relatively compact and efficient. However, the materials such as fluoride
and chalcogenide glasses used for their fabrication must be exempt of defects in order to make efficient laser systems.
However, most existing quality control techniques are not compatible with chalcogenide fibers because of their limited
transparency in the visible spectral range. For this reason, the Université Laval’s Centre d’optique, photonique et laser
(COPL), in Quebec City, Canada, has developed a novel non-destructive testing (NDT) methodology based on infrared
imaging to address this problem. The results show how this simple screening technique eases the selection of high-quality
fibers for the design of high-power mid-IR lasers.
Characterization of ship plumes is very challenging due to the great variety of ships, fuel, and fuel grades, as well as the extent of a gas plume. In this work, imaging of ship plumes from an operating ferry boat was carried out using standoff midwave (3-5 μm) infrared hyperspectral imaging. Quantitative chemical imaging of combustion gases was achieved by fitting a radiative transfer model. Combustion efficiency maps and mass flow rates are presented for carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The results illustrate how valuable information about the combustion process of a ship engine can be successfully obtained using passive hyperspectral remote sensing imaging.
Optical fiber lasers offers the advantage of being relatively compact and efficient. However, the materials such as fluoride and chalcogenide glasses used for their fabrication must be exempt of defects in order to make efficient laser systems. However, most existing quality control techniques are not compatible with chalcogenide fibers because of their limited transparency in the visible spectral range. For this reason, the Université Laval's Centre d'optique, photonique et laser (COPL), in Quebec City, Canada, has developed a novel non-destructive testing (NDT) methodology based on infrared imaging to address this problem. The results show how this simple screening technique eases the selection of high-quality fibers for the design of high-power mid-IR lasers.
Characterization of ship plumes is very challenging due to the great variety of ships, fuel, and fuel grades, as well as the extent of a gas plume. In this work, imaging of ship plumes from an operating ferry boat was carried out using standoff midwave (3-5 μm) infrared hyperspectral imaging. Quantitative chemical imaging of combustion gases was achieved by fitting a radiative transfer model. Combustion efficiency maps and mass flow rates are presented for carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The results illustrate how valuable information about the combustion process of a ship engine can be successfully obtained using passive hyperspectral remote sensing imaging.
Characterization of hazardous lands using ground-based techniques can be very challenging. For this reason, airborne
surveys are often preferred. The use of thermal infrared imaging represents an interesting approach as surveys can be
carried out under various illumination conditions and that the presence of buried objects typically modifies the thermal
inertia of their surroundings. In addition, the burial or presence of a buried object will modify the particle size, texture,
moisture and mineral content of a small region around it. All these parameters may lead to emissivity contrasts which will
make thermal contrast interpretation very challenging. In order to illustrate the potential of airborne thermal infrared
hyperspectral imaging for buried object characterization, various metallic objects were buried in a test site prior to an
airborne survey. Airborne hyperspectral images were recorded using the targeting acquisition mode, a unique feature of
the Telops Hyper-Cam Airborne system which allows recording of successive maps of the same ground area. Temperatureemissivity
separation (TES) was carried out on the hyperspectral map obtained upon scene averaging. The thermodynamic
temperature map estimated after TES highlights the presence of hot spots within the investigated area. Mineral mapping
was carried out upon linear unmixing of the spectral emissivity datacube obtained after TES. The results show how the
combination of thermal information and mineral distribution leads to a better characterization of test sites containing buried
objects.
Thermal infrared imaging is a field of science that evolves rapidly. Scientists have used for years the simplest tool: thermal
broadband cameras. These allow to perform target characterization in both the longwave (LWIR) and midwave (MWIR)
infrared spectral range. Infrared thermal imaging is used for a wide range of applications, especially in the combustion
domain. For example, it can be used to follow combustion reactions, in order to characterize the injection and the ignition
in a combustion chamber or even to observe gases produced by a flare or smokestack. Most combustion gases, such as
carbon dioxide (CO2), selectively absorb/emit infrared radiation at discrete energies, i.e. over a very narrow spectral range.
Therefore, temperatures derived from broadband imaging are not reliable without prior knowledge of spectral emissivity.
This information is not directly available from broadband images. However, spectral information is available using spectral
filters. In this work, combustion analysis was carried out using a Telops MS-IR MW camera, which allows multispectral
imaging at a high frame rate. A motorized filter wheel allowing synchronized acquisitions on eight (8) different channels
was used to provide time-resolved multispectral imaging of combustion products of a candle in which black powder has
been burnt to create a burst. It was then possible to estimate the temperature by modeling spectral profiles derived from
information obtained with the different spectral filters. Comparison with temperatures obtained using conventional
broadband imaging illustrates the benefits of time-resolved multispectral imaging for the characterization of combustion
processes.
Characterization of hazardous lands using ground-based techniques can be very challenging. For this reason, airborne surveys are often preferred. The use of thermal infrared imaging represents an interesting approach as surveys can be carried out under various illumination conditions and that the presence of buried objects typically modifies the thermal inertia of their surroundings. In addition, the burial or presence of a buried object will modify the particle size, texture, moisture and mineral content of a small region around it. All these parameters may lead to emissivity contrasts which will make thermal contrast interpretation very challenging. In order to illustrate the potential of airborne thermal infrared hyperspectral imaging for buried object characterization, various metallic objects were buried in a test site prior to an airborne survey. Airborne hyperspectral images were recorded using the targeting acquisition mode, a unique feature of the Telops Hyper-Cam Airborne system which allows recording of successive maps of the same ground area. Temperatureemissivity separation (TES) was carried out on the hyperspectral map obtained upon scene averaging. The thermodynamic temperature map estimated after TES highlights the presence of hot spots within the investigated area. Mineral mapping was carried out upon linear unmixing of the spectral emissivity datacube obtained after TES. The results show how the combination of thermal information and mineral distribution leads to a better characterization of test sites containing buried objects.
Thermal infrared imaging is a field of science that evolves rapidly. Scientists have used for years the simplest tool: thermal broadband cameras. This allows to perform target characterization in both the longwave (LWIR) and midwave (MWIR) infrared spectral range. Infrared thermal imaging is used for a wide range of applications, especially in the combustion domain. For example, it can be used to follow combustion reactions, in order to characterize the injection and the ignition in a combustion chamber or even to observe gases produced by a flare or smokestack. Most combustion gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) selectively absorb/emit infrared radiation at discrete energies, i.e. over a very narrow spectral range. Therefore, temperatures derived from broadband imaging are not reliable without prior knowledge about spectral emissivity. This information is not directly available from broadband images. However, spectral information is available using spectral filters. In this work, combustion analysis was carried out using Telops MS-IR MW camera which allows multispectral imaging at a high frame rate. A motorized filter wheel allowing synchronized acquisitions on eight (8) different channels was used to provide time-resolved multispectral imaging of combustion products of a candle in which black powder has been burnt to create a burst. It was then possible to estimate the temperature by modeling spectral profile derived from information obtained with the different spectral filters. Comparison with temperatures obtained using conventional broadband imaging illustrates the benefits of time-resolved multispectral imaging for the characterization of combustion processes.
Risks to the safety of public zones (generally available for people) are related mainly to the presence of hidden dangerous objects (such as knives, guns, bombs etc.) and their usage. Modern system for the monitoring of such zones attempt to detect dangerous tools using multispectral cameras working in different spectral ranges: the visible radiation, near, medium and long range infrared and recently also in terahertz range. In order to develop methods and algorithms to detect hidden objects it is necessary to determine the thermal signatures of such objects of interest. The laboratory measurements were conducted to determine the thermal signatures of dangerous tools hidden under various clothes in different ambient conditions. Cameras used for measurements were working in spectral range 0.6-12.5 µm. An infrared imaging Fourier transform spectroradiometer was also used, working in spectral range 7.7-11.7 µm. Analysis of registered thermograms and hyperspectral datacubes has yielded the thermal signatures for: two types of guns, two types of knives and home-made explosive bombs. The determined thermal signatures will be used in the development of method and algorithms of image analysis implemented in proposed monitoring systems.
The requirements for soldier camouflage in the context of modern warfare are becoming more complex and challenging given the emergence of novel infrared sensors. There is a pressing need for the development of adapted fabrics and soldier camouflage devices to provide efficient camouflage in both the visible and infrared spectral ranges. The Military University of Technology has conducted an intensive project to develop new materials and fabrics to further improve the camouflage efficiency of soldiers. The developed materials shall feature visible and infrared properties that make these unique and adapted to various military context needs. This paper presents the details of an advanced measurement campaign of those unique materials where the correlation between multispectral and hyperspectral infrared measurements is performed.
The requirements for soldier camouflage in the context of modern warfare are becoming more complex and challenging given the emergence of novel infrared sensors. There is a pressing need for the development of adapted fabrics and soldier camouflage devices to provide efficient camouflage in both the visible and infrared spectral ranges. The Military University of Technology has conducted an intensive project to develop new materials and fabrics to further improve the camouflage efficiency of soldiers. The developed materials shall feature visible and infrared properties that make these unique and adapted to various military context needs. This paper presents the details of an advanced measurement campaign of those unique materials where the correlation between multispectral and hyperspectral infrared measurements is performed.
The emergence of new infrared camouflage and countermeasure technologies in the context of military operations has paved the way to enhanced detection capabilities. Camouflage devices such as candles (or smoke bombs) and flares are developed to generate either large area or localized screens with very high absorption in the infrared. Similarly, soldier's camouflage devices such as clothing have evolved in design to dissolve their infrared characteristics with that of the background. In all cases, the analysis of the targets infrared images needs to be conducted in both multispectral and hyperspectral domains to assess their capability to efficiently provide visible and infrared camouflage. The Military University of Technology has conducted several intensive field campaigns where various types of smoke candles and camouflage uniforms were deployed in different conditions and were measured both in the multispectral and hyperspectral domains. Cooled broadband infrared cameras were used for the multispectral analysis whereas the high spectral, spatial and temporal resolution acquisition of these thermodynamic events was recorded with the Telops Hyper-Cam sensor. This paper presents the test campaign concept and the analysis of the recorded measurements.
Persistent surveillance and collection of airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information is critical in today’s warfare against terrorism. High resolution imagery in visible and infrared bands provides valuable detection capabilities based on target shapes and temperatures. However, the spectral resolution provided by a hyperspectral imager adds a spectral dimension to the measurements, leading to additional tools for detection and identification of targets, based on their spectral signature. The Telops Hyper-Cam sensor is an interferometer-based imaging system that enables the spatial and spectral analysis of targets using a single sensor. It is based on the Fourier-transform technology yielding high spectral resolution and enabling high accuracy radiometric calibration. It provides datacubes of up to 320×256 pixels at spectral resolutions as fine as 0.25 cm-1. The LWIR version covers the 8.0 to 11.8 μm spectral range. The Hyper-Cam has been recently used for the first time in two compact airborne platforms: a bellymounted gyro-stabilized platform and a gyro-stabilized gimbal ball. Both platforms are described in this paper, and successful results of high-altitude detection and identification of targets, including industrial plumes, and chemical spills are presented.
Modern infrared camouflage and countermeasure technologies used in the context of military operations have evolved
rapidly over the last decade. Indeed, some infrared seekers and decoy/flares tend to have spectral sensitivity tailored to
closely match the emission signatures of military vehicles (such as aircrafts, tanks) and reject other sources. Similarly,
some candles (or smoke bombs) are developed to generate large area screens with very high absorption in the infrared.
The Military University of Technology has conducted an intensive field campaign where various types of flares and
smoke candles were deployed in different conditions and measured. The high spectral, spatial and temporal resolution
acquisition of these thermodynamic events was recorded with the Telops Hyper-Cam.
The Hyper-Cam enables simultaneous acquisition of spatial and spectral information at high resolutions in both domains.
The ability to study combustion systems with high resolution, co-registered imagery and spectral data is made possible.
This paper presents the test campaign concept and definition and the analysis of the recorded measurements.
In today's electro-optic warfare era, it is more than vital for one nation's defense to possess the most advanced
measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) capabilities. This is critical to gain a strategic advantage in the
planning of the military operations and deployments. The thermal infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum is a
key region that is exploited for infrared reconnaissance and surveillance missions. The Military University of
Technology has conducted an intensive measurement campaign of various soldier's camouflage devices in the scope of
building a database of infrared signatures. One of today's key technologies required to perform signature measurements
has become infrared hyperspectral and broadband/multispectral imaging sensors. The Telops Hyper-Cam LW product
represents a unique commercial offering with outstanding performances and versatility for the collection of hyperspectral
infrared images. The Hyper-Cam allows for the infrared imagery of a target (320 × 256 pixels) at a very high spectral
resolution (down to 0.25 cm-1). Moreover, the Military University of Technology has made use of a suite of scientific
grade commercial infrared cameras to further measure and assess the targets from a broadband/multispectral perspective.
The experiment concept and measurement results are presented in this paper.
The Reststrahlen effect has been investigated for detecting regions of recently disturbed earth, by taking images where
metallic objects had been buried in a sandy soil and comparing with images of undisturbed soil. The images were taken
with a Long wave Infrared (LWIR) Hyperspectral Sensor, the Hyper-Cam.
Airborne hyperspectral ground mapping is being used in an ever-increasing extent for numerous
applications in the military, geology and environmental fields. The different regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum help produce information of differing nature. The visible, near-infrared and
short-wave infrared radiation (400 nm to 2.5 μm) has been mostly used to analyze reflected solar light,
while the mid-wave (3 to 5 μm) and long-wave (8 to 12 μm or thermal) infrared senses the self-emission
of molecules directly, enabling the acquisition of data during night time.
The Telops Hyper-Cam is a rugged and compact infrared hyperspectral imager based on the Fourier-transform
technology. It has been used on the ground in several field campaigns, including the
demonstration of standoff chemical agent detection. More recently, the Hyper-Cam has been integrated
into an airplane to provide airborne measurement capabilities. The technology offers fine spectral
resolution (up to 0.25 cm-1) and high accuracy radiometric calibration (better than 1 degree Celsius).
Furthermore, the spectral resolution, spatial resolution, swath width, integration time and sensitivity are
all flexible parameters that can be selected and optimized to best address the specific objectives of each
mission.
The system performance and a few measurements have been presented in previous publications. This
paper focuses on analyzing additional measurements in which detection of fertilizer and Freon gas has
been demonstrated.
DRDC Valcartier recently completed the development of the CATSI EDM (Compact Atmospheric Sounding
Interferometer Engineering Development Model) for the Canadian Forces (CF). It is a militarized sensor designed to
meet the needs of the CF in the development of area surveillance capabilities for the detection and identification of
chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) and toxic industrial chemicals (TIC). CATSI EDM is a passive infrared double-beam
Fourier spectrometer system designed for real-time stand-off detection and identification of chemical vapours at
distances up to 5 km. It is based on the successful passive differential detection technology. This technique known as
optical subtraction, results in a target gas spectrum which is almost free of background, thus making possible detection of weak infrared emission in strong background emission. This paper summarizes the system requirements, achievements, hardware and software characteristics and test results.
Accurate radiometric calibration is a key feature of modern infrared cameras. Considering the newly available infrared
focal plane arrays (FPA) exhibiting very high spatial resolution and faster readout speed, we developed a method to
provide a dedicated radiometric calibration of every pixel. The novel approach is based on detected fluxes rather than
detected counts as is customarily done. This approach features many advantages including the explicit management of
the main parameter used to change the gain of the camera, namely the exposure time. The method not only handles the
variation of detector spectral responsivity across the FPA pixels but also provides an efficient way to correct for the
change of signal offset due to camera self-emission and detector dark current. The method is designed to require as few
parameters as possible to enable a real-time implementation for megapixel-FPAs and for data throughputs larger than
100 Mpixels/s. Preliminary results with a high-speed 3 μm to 5 μm infrared camera demonstrate that the method is
viable and yields small radiometric errors.
Hyperspectral ground mapping is being used in an ever-increasing extent for numerous applications in the military,
geology and environmental fields. The different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum help produce information of
differing nature. The visible, near-infrared and short-wave infrared radiation (400 nm to 2.5 μm) has been mostly used to
analyze reflected solar light, while the mid-wave (3 to 5 μm) and long-wave (8 to 12 μm or thermal) infrared senses the
self-emission of molecules directly, enabling the acquisition of data during night time.
Push-broom dispersive sensors have been typically used for airborne hyperspectral mapping. However, extending the
spectral range towards the mid-wave and long-wave infrared brings performance limitations due to the self emission of
the sensor itself. The Fourier-transform spectrometer technology has been extensively used in the infrared spectral range
due to its high transmittance as well as throughput and multiplex advantages, thereby reducing the sensor self-emission
problem.
Telops has developed the Hyper-Cam, a rugged and compact infrared hyperspectral imager. The Hyper-Cam is based on
the Fourier-transform technology yielding high spectral resolution and enabling high accuracy radiometric calibration. It
provides passive signature measurement capability, with up to 320x256 pixels at spectral resolutions of up to 0.25 cm-1.
The Hyper-Cam has been used on the ground in several field campaigns, including the demonstration of standoff
chemical agent detection. More recently, the Hyper-Cam has been integrated into an airplane to provide airborne
measurement capabilities. A special pointing module was designed to compensate for airplane attitude and forward
motion. To our knowledge, the Hyper-Cam is the first commercial airborne hyperspectral imaging sensor based on
Fourier-transform infrared technology. The first airborne measurements and some preliminary performance criteria for
the Hyper-Cam are presented in this paper.
Standoff detection, identification and quantification of chemical agents are fundamental needs in several fields of
applications. Additional required sensor characteristics include high sensitivity, low false alarms and high-speed (ideally
real-time) operation, all in a compact and robust package. The thermal infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
has been utilized to implement such chemical sensors, either with spectrometers (with none or moderate imaging
capability) or with imagers (with moderate spectral capability). Only with the recent emergence of high-speed, large
format infrared imaging arrays, has it been possible to design chemical sensors offering uncompromising performance in
the spectral, spatial, as well as the temporal domain.
Telops has developed an innovative instrument that can not only provide an early warning for chemical agents and toxic
chemicals, but also one that provides a "Chemical Map" in the field of view. To provide to best field imaging
spectroscopy instrument, Telops has developed the FIRST,
Field-portable Imaging Radiometric Spectrometer
Technology, instrument. This instrument is based on a modular design that includes: a high-performance infrared FPA
and data acquisition electronics, onboard data processing electronics, a high-performance Fourier transform modulator,
dual integrated radiometric calibration targets and a visible boresight camera. These modules, assembled together in an
environmentally robust structure, used in combination with Telops' proven radiometric and spectral calibration
algorithms make this instrument a world-class passive standoff detection system for chemical imaging.
This paper presents chemical detection and identification results obtained with the FIRST sensor.
The midwave and shortwave infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum contain rich information enabling the characterization of hot, rapid events such as explosions, engine plumes, flares and other combustion events. High-speed sensors are required to analyze the content of such rapidly evolving targets. Cameras with high frame rates and non-imaging spectrometers with high data rates are typically used; however the information from these two types of instruments must be later fused to enable characterization of the transient targets. Imaging spectrometers have recently become commercially available for general scientific use, thus enabling simultaneous capture of both spatial and spectral information without co-registration issues. However, their use against rapidly-varying sources has traditionally been considered problematic, for even at moderate spatial and spectral resolutions the time to acquire a single spectrum can be long compared to the timescales associated with combustion events.
This paper demonstrates that imaging Fourier-transform spectroscopy (IFTS) can successfully characterize the turbulent combustion exhaust from a turbojet engine. A Telops Hyper-Cam IFTS collected hyperspectral video from a Turbine Technologies SR-30 turbojet engine with a spectral resolution of δν = 1/cm-1 on a 200×64 pixel sub-window at a rate of 0.3 Hz. Scene-change artifacts (SCAs) are present in the spectra; however, the stochastic fluctuations in source intensity translate into high-frequency "noise." Temporal averaging affords a significant reduction of the noise associated with SCAs. Emission from CO and CO2 are clearly recognized in the averaged spectra, and information about their temperature and relative concentrations is evident.
Hyperspectral ground mapping is being used in an ever-increasing extent for numerous applications in the military,
geology and environmental fields. The different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum help produce information of
differing nature. The visible, near-infrared and short-wave infrared radiation (400 nm to 2.5 μm) has been mostly used to
analyze reflected solar light, while the mid-wave (3 to 5 μm) and long-wave (8 to 12 μm or thermal) infrared senses the
self-emission of molecules directly, enabling the acquisition of data during night time.
Push-broom dispersive sensors have been typically used for airborne hyperspectral mapping. However, extending the
spectral range towards the mid-wave and long-wave infrared brings performance limitations due to the self emission of
the sensor itself. The Fourier-transform spectrometer technology has been extensively used in the infrared spectral range
due to its high transmittance as well as throughput and multiplex advantages, thereby reducing the sensor self-emission
problem.
Telops has developed the Hyper-Cam, a rugged and compact infrared hyperspectral imager. The Hyper-Cam is based on
the Fourier-transform technology yielding high spectral resolution and enabling high accuracy radiometric calibration. It
provides passive signature measurement capability, with up to 320x256 pixels at spectral resolutions of up to 0.25 cm-1.
The Hyper-Cam has been used on the ground in several field campaigns, including the demonstration of standoff
chemical agent detection. More recently, the Hyper-Cam has been integrated into an airplane to provide airborne
measurement capabilities. A special pointing module was designed to compensate for airplane attitude and forward
motion. To our knowledge, the Hyper-Cam is the first commercial airborne hyperspectral imaging sensor based on
Fourier-transform infrared technology. The first airborne measurements and some preliminary performance criteria for
the Hyper-Cam are presented in this paper.
A cryogenic Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Cryo-FTS) was developed for the Low Background Infrared
(LBIR) facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This spectrometer was developed for the
Missile Defense Agency Transfer Radiometer (MDXR) that will be used to calibrate infrared sources that cannot be
transported to NIST for calibration. When used inside the MDXR, the Cryo-FTS provides relative spectral measurements
with a repeatability better than 1 % over the spectral range from 3 μm to 15 μm and at a spectral resolution of 0.6 cm-1.
This level of performance is enabled by the use of an advancec real-time resampling method.
The compact interferometer uses a compensated Michelson configuration and has an operating temperature range
between 10 K and 340 K with very low static beam redirection (< 215 μrad). The interferometer uses flat mirrors and a
KBr beamsplitter and compensator. This optics maintains low wavefront distortion for infrared beams of up to 2 cm
diameter and 5 mrad divergence. It integrates a digitally servo-controlled porchswing mechanism to provide an accurate
and repeatable optical path difference and is supported by a Wavefront Alignment (WA) system to correct for wavefront
residual tilt in real time using a fibre optic coupled metrology system. The interferometer provides modulation efficiency
of better than 44% with limited power dissipation (< 2.8 W) during operation.
A cryogenic Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Cryo-FTS) was developed for the Low Background Infrared
(LBIR) facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This spectrometer was developed for the
Missile Defense Agency Transfer Radiometer (MDXR) that will be used to calibrate infrared sources that cannot be
transported to NIST for calibration. When used inside the MDXR, the Cryo-FTS provides relative spectral measurements
with a repeatability better than 1 % over the spectral range from 3 μm to 15 μm and at a spectral resolution of 0.6 cm-1.
This level of performance is enabled by the use of an advancec real-time resampling method.
The compact interferometer uses a compensated Michelson configuration and has an operating temperature range
between 10 K and 340 K with very low static beam redirection (< 215 μrad). The interferometer uses flat mirrors and a
KBr beamsplitter and compensator. This optics maintains low wavefront distortion for infrared beams of up to 2 cm
diameter and 5 mrad divergence. It integrates a digitally servo-controlled porchswing mechanism to provide an accurate
and repeatable optical path difference and is supported by a Wavefront Alignment (WA) system to correct for wavefront
residual tilt in real time using a fibre optic coupled metrology system. The interferometer provides modulation efficiency
of better than 44% with limited power dissipation (< 2.8 W) during operation.
Standoff detection, identification and quantification of chemical agents are fundamental needs in several fields of
applications. Additional required sensor characteristics include high sensitivity, low false alarms and high-speed (ideally
real-time) operation, all in a compact and robust package. The thermal infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
has been utilized to implement such chemical sensors, either with spectrometers (with none or moderate imaging
capability) or with imagers (with moderate spectral capability). Only with the recent emergence of high-speed, large
format infrared imaging arrays, has it been possible to design chemical sensors offering uncompromising performance in
the spectral, spatial, as well as the temporal domain.
Telops has developed an innovative instrument that can not only provide an early warning for chemical agents and toxic
chemicals, but also one that provides a "Chemical Map" in the field of view. To provide to best field imaging
spectroscopy instrument, Telops has developed the FIRST, Field-portable Imaging Radiometric Spectrometer
Technology, instrument. This instrument is based on a modular design that includes: a high-
performance infrared FPA
and data acquisition electronics, onboard data processing electronics, a high- performance Fourier transform modulator,
dual integrated radiometric calibration targets and a visible boresight camera. These modules, assembled together in an
environmentally robust structure, used in combination with Telops' proven radiometric and spectral calibration
algorithms make this instrument a world-class passive standoff detection system for chemical imaging.
This paper presents chemical detection and identification results obtained with the FIRST sensor.
A cryogenic Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Cryo-FTS) was developed for the Low Background Infrared
(LBIR) facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This spectrometer was developed for the
Missile Defense Agency Transfer Radiometer (MDXR) that will be used to calibrate infrared sources that can not be
transported to NIST for calibration. When used inside the MDXR, the Cryo-FTS is expected to be able to provide
relative spectral measurements with an accuracy of < 0.3 % uncertainty of infrared sources with a spectral range from 4μm to 15 μm and a spectral resolution of 0.6 cm-1.
The Cryo-FTS spectral range is determined by the beamsplitter since all of its other optics use reflective materials. The
compact interferometer uses a compensated Michelson configuration and has an operating temperature range between
10 K and 340 K with very low static beam redirection (< 215 μrad). The interferometer uses flat metal mirrors and KBr
flat optics and maintains low wavefront distortion for infrared beams of up to 1.63 cm diameter. It integrates a digitally
servo-controlled porchswing mechanism to provide an accurate and repeatable optical path difference and is supported
by a Wavefront Alignment (WA) system to correct for wavefront residual tilt in real time using a fibre optic based
metrology system. The interferometer is expected to provide modulation efficiency of better than 22% with limited
power dissipation (< 2.8 W) during continuous operation.
Standoff detection, identification and quantification of chemical agents are fundamental needs in several fields of
applications. Additional required sensor characteristics include high sensitivity, low false alarms and high-speed (ideally
real-time) operation, all in a compact and robust package. The thermal infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
has been utilized to implement such chemical sensors, either with spectrometers (with none or moderate imaging
capability) or with imagers (with moderate spectral capability). Only with the recent emergence of high-speed, large
format infrared imaging arrays, has it been possible to design chemical sensors offering uncompromising performance in
the spectral, spatial, as well as the temporal domain.
Telops has developed an innovative instrument that can not only provide an early warning for chemical agents and toxic
chemicals, but also one that provides a "Chemical Map" of the field of view. To provide to best field imaging
spectroscopy instrument, Telops has developed the FIRST, Field-portable Imaging Radiometric Spectrometer
Technology, instrument. This instrument is based on a modular design that includes: a high performance infrared FPA
and data acquisition electronics, onboard data processing electronics, a high performance Fourier transform modulator,
dual integrated radiometric calibration targets and a visible boresighted camera. These modules, assembled together in
an environmentally robust structure, used in combination with Telops' proven radiometric and spectral calibration
algorithms make this instrument a world-class passive standoff detection system for chemical imaging.
This paper presents chemical detection and identification results obtained with the FIRST sensor.
A cryogenic Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (Cryo-FTS) was developed for the Low Background Infrared
(LBIR) facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This spectrometer was developed for the
Missile Defense Agency Transfer Radiometer (MDXR) that will be used to calibrate infrared sources that can not be
transported to NIST for calibration. When used inside the MDXR, the Cryo-FTS is expected to be able to provide
relative spectral measurements with an accuracy of < 0.3 % uncertainty of infrared sources with a spectral range from 4
μm to 15 μm and a spectral resolution of 0.6 cm-1.
The Cryo-FTS spectral range is determined by the beamsplitter since all of its other optics use reflective materials. The
compact interferometer uses a compensated Michelson configuration and has an operating temperature range between
10 K and 340 K with very low static beam redirection (< 215 μrad). The interferometer uses flat metal mirrors and KBr
flat optics and maintains low wavefront distortion for infrared beams of up to 1.63 cm diameter. It integrates a digitally
servo-controlled porchswing mechanism to provide an accurate and repeatable optical path difference and is supported
by a Wavefront Alignment (WA) system to correct for wavefront residual tilt in real time using a fibre optic based
metrology system. The interferometer is expected to provide modulation efficiency of better than 22% with limited
power dissipation (< 2.8 W) during continuous operation.
This paper presents the development of an instrumental prototype for IR hyperspectral imaging from geo-synchronous earth orbit (GEO). Within the framework of collaboration and funding support from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Telops performed the development and technical demonstration of a spectral dispersive module (SDM) with potential application for the US NOAA Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (HES). HES development will provide infrared and visible environmental data collection capabilities for the next GOES program series of geo-synchronous satellites that will collect weather and environmental data to aid in the prediction of weather and in climate monitoring. The design of the SDM is based on an Offner configuration. Such a design allows the gathering of high spatial and spectral resolution data while keeping the spatial and spectral distortions smaller than the size of a pixel. A convex diffraction grating is used in the system as a spectrally dispersing element. The targeted application of this Offner spectrometer configuration is weather sounding in the mid-IR spectral range. The design and demonstration phase of the SDM is described. Test results, such as spectral/spatial resolution, distortion, transmission and efficiency, with the engineering laboratory model are presented.
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