Ultra-lightweight Infrared Camera

Small UAVs have more than proven their value in the military world and will also be utilized for homeland applications such as border security, law enforcement and situational awareness. Future micro-UAVs (MUAVs) will offer greater utility and lower cost and at the same time require reduced size, weight and power infrared cameras. Uncooled focal plane array (FPA) technology has evolved such that high performance is achieved in the long wavelength infrared (LWIR) band with small pixel pitch and fast thermal time constant. FPA temperature stabilization/cooling is not required thus reducing power and weight. On-FPA analog-to-digital conversion and custom digital electronics significantly reduces power dissipation. This small IFOV with short focal length optics, on FPA dewar, small pitch FPA sensor and custom digital electronics technology allows development of ultra-lightweight and low power infrared cameras for use on micro-UAVs. Black Forest Engineering, on Phase II, will develop and demostrate a 640x480 pixel format LWIR camera on Phase II with weight < 10 grams and power < 1.5 watt camera integrated within MUAV structural elements.