Low C-SWaP Long Wavelength Infrared Hyperspectral Imager Technology for Attritable Platforms

The ability to detect, identify, and warn against threats by state and non-state actors from airborne platforms in hostile airspace is a critical Air Force need to address Operational Imperative 3: Moving Target Engagement.? This need may be met using small, unmanned aerial system platforms (SUAS) carrying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors.? Such sensors must be reliable and attritable, containing components with minimal maintenance and replacement cost.? Panchromatic, multispectral, and thermal cameras are insufficient to provide the necessary discrimination required to detect, identify, and defeat threats from existing and future adversaries.  Spectral Sciences Inc (SSI) is developing a LWIR HSI approach that promises the low C-SWaP equivalent to standard ISR thermal imaging cameras required for attritable SUAS operation.  Further, the proposed system has performance that rivals much larger HSI systems. An early prototype, SAFIRE (Superpixel Array For InfraREd) has been demonstrated. In this project, we propose new manufacturing and software processing approaches that reduce cost and enhance performance.  We introduce two innovations, one in hardware, to produce rugged, mechanically stable devices, and one in software, to correct and calibrate the data and produce informative detection results.