High speed VNIR/SWIR HSI sensor for vegetation trait mapping

A high-speed visible/near infrared, shortwave infrared (VNIR/SWIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensor for airborne, dynamic, spatially-resolved vegetation trait measurements in support of advanced terrestrial modeling is presented. The VNIR/SWIR-HSI sensor employs a digital micromirror device as an agile, programmable entrance slit into VNIR (0.5–1μm) and SWIR (1.2–2.4μm) grating spectrometer channels, each with a two-dimensional focal plane array. The sensor architecture, realized in a 13 lb package, is specifically tailored for deployment on a small rotary wing (hovering) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The architecture breaks the interdependency between aircraft speed, frame rate, and spatial resolution characteristic of push-broom HSI systems. The approach enables imaging while hovering as well as flexible revisit and/or foveation over a region of interest without requiring cooperation by the UAS. Hyperspectral data cubes are acquired on the second timescale which alleviates the position accuracy requirements on the UAS’s GPS-IMU. The sensor employs a simultaneous and boresighted visible context imager for pan sharpening and orthorectification. The data product is a 384×290 (spatial) ×340 (spectral) format calibrated, orthorectified spectral reflectivity data cube with a 26×20° field of view. The development, characterization, and a series of capability demonstrations of an advanced prototype VNIR/SWIR HSI sensor are presented. Capability demonstrations include ground-based testing as well as flight testing from a commercial rotary wing UAS with remote operation of the HSI sensor via a dedicated ground station.