An ultra-compact hyperspectral imaging system for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle with smartphone-sensor technology

At the Naval Research Laboratory Optical Sciences and Remote Sensing Divisions, a compact hyperspectral imaging sensor has been in development using a method of multi-order spectroscopy using Fabry-Perot etalon arrays. This has allowed for the first broadband, ultra-compact spectrometer. A prototype hyperspectral imaging system is now in development for use with an unmanned aerial vehicle. This system will be a “push-broom system” that scans ground data line by line in a row of pixels forming the hyperspectral datacube and will be georeferenced onto a Digital Surface Model of the ground with location (latitude, longitude, altitude) and attitude (azimuth, pitch, roll) GPS-INS 6-degree of freedom parameters. These parameters will be collected through the use of a high-end modern smartphone with its GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometric pressure, and digital compass sensors. In this paper, we discuss the various sensors and systems being utilized with a smartphone for use with the hyperspectral imaging sensor in development.