A Low-cost Portable Short Wavelength Infrared Spectrometer

Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) technology has the ability to make characteristics of objects that are invisible to the naked eye visible. However, the widespread use of this technology has been hindered by the high cost and complicated interface of existing technology. Stratio, Inc. (Stratio)’s portable spectrometer Linksquare has integrated various elements into a single component from hardware to achieve innovation. The main objective of Phase I, is to further optimize the optical components to create a multi-component prism. The optics design will include dimensions, materials used, as well as the calculation of the dispersive power of the new multi-component prism. The goal will be to use a cuboid shape to enable the smallest size and minimal number of parts and maintain a dispersive power equivalent to VIS/NIR and NIR spectrometers. We will conduct experiments to determine the optimal components and angle sharpness to achieve a SWIR prism with sufficient dispersive power. Additionally, we will develop complementary AI models for application for use in plastic sorting in combination with our solution. We have the goal of sorting seven types of plastics, including the identification of plastics in compromised condition.