Airborne High-Dynamic Range Anamorphic Hyperspectral Imager

The purpose of this effort is to develop and demonstrate a compact and high-performance hyperspectral imager designed specifically for remote sensing of aquatic systems/ecosystems. The proposed design utilizes anamorphic optics, a unique segmented dual blaze grating, and innovative filter placement to maximize the instruments sensitivity and dynamic range. These innovations enable retrieval of fainter signals as compared to conventional slit spectrometers, especially in the short wavelength regime where solar illumination is attenuated by the Earths atmosphere. The innovations enable higher performance while keeping cost and weight low. The proposed instrument is designed to be flown on low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles, enabling accessibility to a wide range of researchers and data collection in many more scenarios than is possible with current satellite and airborne assets. The proposed innovation is an imaging spectrometer designed for optical measurement of aquatic ecosystems that may span open ocean to coastal and inland waters.  The intended platform is an airborne application on UAV although the targeted purposes can also be achieved on low flying manned aircraft as well.  Two application areas of interest are; 1) to help stimulate the movement of hyperspectral imaging resources from large organizations to individual research groups, and 2) to provide validation support for PACE OCI and other NASA programs/potential programs utilizing hyperspectral observations of earth from orbital platforms.  Under the first ideology, widespread adoption of UAV-based hyperspectral imaging platforms has the potential to revolutionize our ability to monitor aquatic systems.  In the second case, a portable UAV based imager (or fleet of imagers) is envisioned as a lower cost alternative to manned aerial missions that would provide a smaller footprint but higher spatial resolution with more flexible deployment opportunities and higher repeat rates.     There are two main objectives of the work to be done.  The first is to build a prototype hyperspectral imager based on the results of the Phase I effort.  This work will include finalizing the design from the Phase I effort, which will include accommodating optical tolerancing, thermal mitigation, and manufacturability.  An alignment plan will be finalized and the opto-mechanical parts will be obtained/fabricated and assembled into an imager at Resonon’s facility.  The second objective is to demonstrate the imager and data collection software system.  This will be accomplished by obtaining hyperspectral datacubes from outdoor scenes under solar illumination from a ground-based scanning system.  The proposed deliverable will be the completed prototype hyperspectral imaging system.

The instrument will provide cost-effective ground-truthing for current NASA assets such as PRISM, sensors on board Landsat-8 and 9, and the MODIS instruments. Future applications include ground-truthing for instruments such as the OCI on board PACE and the GLIMR mission. The proposed instrument may also be used to collect data relevant to the Surface Biology and Geology (SBG) study and the Arctic-COLORS field campaign.  The proposed instrument system will be accessible to researchers and organizations with limited financial resources.  Potential applications may include public safety (e.g., monitoring of harmful algal blooms and water quality), shallow water benthic mapping, and marine fauna surveys.  

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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