We have extensive experience designing, building, and fielding various military imaging systems: from large, bench-mounted adaptive optical systems to small, portable all-in-one imagers, and from strapdown isolation systems to gimbal-mounted pointing-and-tracking. Below are two samples of work we have done in the past. These two samples are for multi-spectral imaging systems, which are also easily adapted (by switching out the easily-replaceable spectral filters for polarizing filters) to become imaging polarimeters.

We designed and built the airborne multispectral imaging system used in the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance Analysis (COBRA) program. The objective of this program was to provide accurate detection of land mines in heavily cluttered environments. The COBRA imaging system used an intensified video camera incorporating a spinning filter wheel, which contained six relatively narrow band filters. The COBRA imaging system was successful in several airborne missions on board helicopters and tactical UAVs. The multispectral images captured with our imaging system were successfully used to automatically discriminate mines from the background, based on their specific spectral signature.

 

We designed and invented the Quad-Prism Aperture Splitting (QPAS) imaging system, which is at the heart of the Airborne Surviellance, Target Acquisition and Minefield Detection System, formerly known as the Airborne Standoff Minefield Detection System (ASTAMIDS). This sensor system was developed for deployment of the U.S. Army Future Combat Systems (FCS) RQ-88 Fire Scout Class IV UAV. Our innovative optical system employed simultaneous multi-spectral imaging in order to help the Army to detect, characterize, and locate minefields, obstacles, camouflaged targets, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

 

 

SUMMARY

We designed and patented several multispectral imaging systems for use in airborne landmine detection. Contact us to learn more about how Contrast Optical can solve your optical design problems.