Compact snapshot image mapping spectrometer (SNAP-IMS) for hyperspectral data cube acquisition using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) environmental imaging

Due to the growth of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and small spacecraft (SmallSats) in recent years, there has been a push for the development of miniaturized spectral imagers to be incorporated with them. An efficient, compact hyperspectral imager integrated with these vehicles provides a cost-effective platform for environmental sensing applications that include the monitoring of agriculture, vegetation, geology, and pollutants. We present here the development and integration of a hyperspectral imaging system called the SNAP-IMS, originally used for biomedical detection, with an Octocopter UAV. The entire collected hyperspectral data cube is 350x400x55 (x,y,λ) spatial/spectral samples. The final system enclosure (288 mm x 150 mm x 160 mm) weighs 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs), offering minimal size and weight. The payload’s power consumption is marginal as there are no mechanical scanning components; the existing power requirements are dedicated exclusively to CCD frame acquisition. Experimental testing included several flights on board the Octocopter UAV, acquiring hyperspectral data cubes at 1/100 second. Snapshot mode and short integration times mitigate motion artifacts. The low size, weight, and power consumption can offer longer and higher flights at smaller drone sizes. These improvements augment the potential for additional instrument incorporation (i.e. LiDAR, Multi-spectral IR) in the future. Imaging results and system description are presented and discussed.