Wide Area Infrared Chemical Imager

Autonomous standoff detection of lethal or narcotic chemical agents and chemical emissions has long been a major concern. While significant advances have recently been accomplished in remote spectral sensing using regged FTIRs with point detectors, efforts towards spatial chemical discrimination and low-cost portable devices have been lacking.Foster-Miller, Inc. (FMI) together with Boeing/Rockwell Electro-Optic Center proposes to design and demonstrate a radically different infrared imaging spectrometer for standoff chemical detection. This no moving parts device will: Be readily incorporated into existing or planned FLIRs and thermal imaging cameras to add chemical recognition functionality. Eliminate the cost, complexity, reliability and bandwidth resolution problems associated with either Fabry Perot or Michelson Interferometer based approaches currently under consideration. Given the small size and performance insensitivity to on-board vibration, high EMI, thermal variations, the proposed optic would easily adapt to field deployable requirements.The Phase I effort will develop a theoretical model for identified application, determine spectral and spatial resolution needed and trade off active with passive modalities to leverage low-cost micro-bolometer arrays. Our team partner, Boeing/Rockwell Electro-Optical Center will provide input on detector selection and integration support to demonstrate the feasibility of our design approach. The Phase I will provide the basis for the creation of a conceptual of an integrated thermal and chemical imager for development during Phase II.