Embedded IR (embIR) Thermal Imaging Camera for Nano-UAVs

Currently available thermal cameras do not meet the combined weight, power, field-of-view (FOV), and detection requirements necessary for use on nano-UAVs for applications such as Soldier Borne Sensors (SBS). Increasing the angular FOV while maintaining a desired probability of detection under specified conditions typically means increasing pixel count. Once the detector technology is at the minimum available pixel pitch (12 µm is the current de facto small-pitch standard), widening the FOV means increased Focal Plane Array (FPA) area accompanied by substantially increasing lens complexity and weight as the AFOV approaches and exceeds 90°. Camera power draw also becomes increasingly important on smaller UAVs as increased power draw requires additional battery capacity, which adds weight and reduces flight time, requiring even more battery capacity. As power draw and weight go up, the entire platform eventually must also scale up. RPX has proposed an innovative approach to achieving the detection objectives, weighing less than 5 grams, using less than 1 watt of power, and with a field of view wider than 100° to enable smaller UAV platforms and/or longer flight times.