Hyperspectral imaging is a proven technique that was first implemented in the 1980s for remote sensing of the Earth. In the mid 1990s, military and defense requirements spawned a new set of tasks that were well suited to the capabilities of these imaging spectrometers. With years of implementation experience, hyperspectral instruments have been designed to provide high-resolution imagery with no image distortion (typically known as keystone or smile), which is a key concern for imaging in harsh or hostile environments. This imaging performance is a result of a concentric imaging design that utilizes a high-efficiency, holographic diffraction grating as the dispersive optic in the system. Standard spectral ranges consist of the visible-near-infrared range (VNIR 400 to 1,000 nm), nearinfrared (NIR 900 to 1,700nm), and shortwave infrared range (SWIR 1,000 nm to 2,500 nm).

Through careful design, small hyperspectral sensors are optimized to provide for a wide field of view (FOV) and enhanced instantaneous field of view (IFOV), which is an indicator of spectral and spatial resolving power of the sensor.

With UAVs such as the U.S. Army’s Raven (hand-launched, 4.2 pounds, 5-foot wingspan) being deployed in ever increasing numbers, sensor designers and optical engineers will continue to be challenged to develop sensing instrumentation that not only provides critical information but does so in smaller and smaller package sizes.

This article was written by David Bannon, co-founder of Headwall Photonics, Fitchburg, MA. For more information, contact Mr. Bannon at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit http://info.hotims.com/10970-523.