Three Band Thermal Infrared Detector for CubeSats and UAS

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. Xiomas has extensive experience in most of the fundamental technologies proposed. In Phase II we propose to develop a flight ready TRL 7 prototype, with the final six months of Phase II dedicated to instrument calibration and characterization, environmental tests (shock, vibration, temperature, etc.), and flight tests in manned or unmanned small aircraft. 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.

Xiomas believes the proposed sensor system will support NASA's Earth science program and the effort to develop a scientific understanding of Earth's system and its response to natural or human-induced changes, and to improve prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards, and we take this opportunity to reiterate the importance we attach to developing technology which not only performs at a very high level but also reduces mission cost. Also applies to recent ROSES solicitation for CubeSats

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, such as ground water mapping.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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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