Three Band Thermal Infrared Detector for CubeSats and UAS

The proposed Phase II prototype will deliver high spatial resolution, wide field of view, high signal to noise performance, and three spectral bands. The system includes onboard processing to extract the information of greatest value, orthorectify the imagery, and reduce the size of the data for transmission. This sensor system is designed to fit within the size, weight, and power (SWaP) envelopes of typical remote sensing aircraft and six unit CubeSats. The design allows for expansion in a number of areas, most significantly, the optical system supports the option of choosing (during fabrication) specific spectral bands within the spectral range from 3um to 12um. TBIRD incorporates a step stare optical design which provides fundamental advantages over current imaging systems including: The combination of a step stare scanning mirror with a focal plane array offers fundamental improvements in spatial resolution The high performance of the step stare scanning system combined with current state of the art detectors results in wide area coverage similar to MODIS and with the spatial resolution of ASTER During the Phase I we have determined that the proposed step stare system will easily accommodate higher scan rates. As a result the TBIRD will be suitable for a wide range of applications and operational concepts, both space based and airborne. Weve developed a Forward Motion Compensation mechanism, which is incorporated in the TBIRD lens. This feature eliminates image smear due to platform motion, greatly enhancing image quality over existing high resolution thermal imagers. We have developed a super resolution feature, not included in the original proposal, which has the potential to improve spatial resolution and subpixel target detection by a factor of 2 or more. The overall objective of the SBIR is to develop a high performance, inexpensive, three-band thermal infrared camera system, suitable for deployment in Unmanned Airborne Systems and CubeSats.  This imaging system will be capable of mapping thermal features on the surface of the earth with a high revisit rate and high spatial resolution.  Xiomas believes the Three Band Infrared Detector (TBIRD) System will see significant demand as a small multiband thermal sensor onboard small to medium sized unmanned airborne vehicles (UAV) and space-based cubesat applications, in both the commercial and military markets.         The overall objective of the SBIR is to develop a high performance, inexpensive, three-band thermal infrared camera system, suitable for deployment in small manned or Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) and CubeSats.  This imaging system will be capable of mapping thermal features on the surface of the earth with a wide field of view, a high revisit rate, and high spatial resolution.  Xiomas believes the Three Band Infrared Detector (TBIRD) System will see significant demand as a small multiband thermal sensor onboard small manned aircraft, small to medium sized unmanned airborne systems (UAS), and space-based cubesat, in both the civilian and military markets.  The system will be useful for a wide variety of environmental research, disaster response, wildfire science, wildfire detection and mapping, oil spill mapping and detection, and thermal anomaly mapping in general.   During Phase II a TRL 7 flight ready prototype will be built, characterized, and flight-tested.  During Phase II we propose to fly 2 flight tests in manned aircraft or small UAVs. 

  The system will be useful for a wide variety of environmental research, disaster response, wildfire science, wildfire detection and mapping, oil spill mapping and detection, and thermal anomaly mapping in general. Wildfire mapping, ground water mapping, heat loss studies Military and Intelligence applications

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.