Hyperspectral 3-D Detector

A program to develop an advanced 3-D hyperspectral imaging sensor capable of operating in the NUV/VIS/NIR bands or MWIR/LWIR bands is proposed. The proposed system builds upon Surface Optics' real-time hyperspectral imaging activities, transforming thecurrent line scanning Multiband Identification and Discrimination Imaging Spectroradiometer (MIDIS) system to a Full-Cube Imager (FC-Imager), simultaneously sampling at least 16 spectral bands over a full 2-D field, with an eye towards transitioning it touse in a tactical environment. Based upon requirements for simultaneous acquisition of all hyperspectral bands at each pixel in a full 2-D field, SOC will conduct a preliminary design of the Full-Cube Imager, which will include a compact, rugged,relatively inexpensive 3-D imager plus the real-time hyperspectral (HS) data processor. The proposed effort represents the culmination of three SBIRs aimed at developing MWIR/LWIR imagers and miniaturization (through ASIC development) of SOC's patentedreal-time hyperspectral image processor for inclusion in a highly portable sensor capable of real-time hyperspectral discrimination. By building on Surface Optics Corporation's and Rockwell Scientific's combined decades of experience in hyperspectralimaging system development, sensor development, and algorithm development, the proposed program will produce a new FC-Imager of unsurpassed capability, with varied military and commercial applications. By making hyperspectral sensors more portable, morerugged, and less costly, development of the Full-Cube Imaging sensor will dramatically enhance the military's capability to extract information from a scene that is unavailable to current tactical imaging sensors. Further commercialization will vastlyimprove the warfighter's ability to detect highly camouflaged threats. Potential non-threat sensing applications include remote sensing, surveillance, pollution monitoring, plume analysis, medical diagnostics, industrial production control, and land minedetection.