Low Cost Real-Time Dynamic Terrain

Not Available Kestrel Corporation proposes a new technology that can overcome the chromatic induced optical aberrations broadband imaging systems such as multi and hyperspectral imagers. This technology has the potential of correcting one of the limiting factors in the ultimate spectral and spatial resolution that can be obtained in these critical sensors. In this Phase I SBIR, we will first incorporated the new technology into existing analytic models to parametrically assess the potential and second, demonstrated the effectiveness in a laboratory experiment. Finally we will propose a conceptual design for incorporating the chromatic correction into a set of existing sensors and estimate the performance improvements that can be expected. The proposed technique is an adaptation of a distorted grating developed to make atmospheric measurements allowing us to take advantage of an existing theoretical base. By applying the distorted grating to correct chromatic correction into a set of an existing theoretical base. By applying the distorted grating to correct chromatic distortion in multi and hyperspectral imagers we offer the opportunity to greatly increase the spectral bandwidth and improve the spatial resolution while reducing the need for costly custom optics for this emerging class of new sensor technologies. An adaptation of the distorted grating to chromatic corrections has received high interest in the bio-medical imaging community offering a clear route to commercialization.