A Compact Full Motion Video Hyperspectral Measurement System for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) platforms fit into the USAF Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance strategy by providing local persistence, operation in contested environments, and low probability of detection. SUAS gimbal performance is typically limited to full color full motion video, limiting target detection and identification information available to image analysts and detection algorithms. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors collect spectral information from scene imagery, beyond that of conventional full color full motion video, which can be used for improved det/ID performance through spatial and spectral processing.However, typical HSI systems are not appropriate for the cost, size, weight, and power requirements of SUASs, thus there is a need for a payload (and associated processing capability) capable of collecting full motion video and hyperspectral measurements from SUAS platforms. The long-term objective of this project is to realize the desired hyperspectral measurement enhanced FMV/NIIRS 6 system and associated processing capability by leveraging Sporian Microsystems prior work on compact hyperspectral measurement systems, and integrate them with commercial off the shelf FVM/Imaging hardware.Phase II efforts will focus on: the detailed design of the gimbal payload; full system prototyping and integration into an appropriate gimbal; and testing/demonstration in laboratory and field environments.