Compact snapshot image mapping spectrometer for unmanned aerial vehicle hyperspectral imaging

Due to the surge in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and small spacecraft (CubeSats and SmallSats) in recent years, there has been a push to develop miniaturized instrumentation to be incorporated on such platforms. A compact hyperspectral imager integrated with these vehicles provides a cost-effective platform for a range of environmental sensing applications that include the monitoring of vegetation, urban development, and lightning. We present the snapshot hyperspectral imaging system (SNAP-IMS), requiring no scanning and capable of integration with a UAV. The collected hyperspectral data cube is 350  ×  400  ×  55 (x  ,  y  ,  λ) and is acquired within a single camera exposure. The system (288  mm  ×  150  mm  ×  160  mm) weighs 3.6 kg (7.9 lb), and its power consumption is marginal as there are no scanning components. Experimental testing included several flights over an area covered by diverse types of vegetation and man-made structures. Data cubes are recorded at a 1/100 s integration time, which mitigated motion-related artifacts. The low size, mass, and power consumption of the imager can enable longer and higher flights at smaller drone sizes and allow easy, portable spectral imaging. Imaging results and the system description are presented and discussed.