Evaluation of the AIRIS Standoff Hyperspectral Imaging System

Abstract : The ability of the AIRIS (Physical Sciences, Inc., Andover, MA) standoff sensor to detect chemical agents was examined in a series of laboratory measurements. Agents were passed through a flow cell, which was viewed against a blackbody that defined the thermal background. The cell was translated through the sensor's Held of regard to simulate the impact of cloud motion on detection capability. This experiment used agent column densities and background thermal contrasts that were representative of those identified in the Commercial Joint Service Lightweight Standoff Chemical Agent Detector (JSLSCAD) specifications. The sensor demonstrated the ability to detect the agents GB and GD at or above JSLSCAD threshold conditions. The ability to detect HD at threshold levels was marginally achieved, but the results were compromised by experimental limitations. Analysis of the test results using the spectra of agents that were not tested suggests similar capability could be expected.