TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS) The innovation is an Airborne VNIR and SWIR Imaging Spectrometer (AVSIS) that acquires calibrated hyperspectral data within the 400?1700nm range (expandable to 2,500nm) for light aircraft/UAV. AVSIS is a grating-type hyperspectral scanner using all solid-state Silicon/InGaAs sensors via a common slit imaging approach. By simultaneously imaging Earth surface and acquiring downwelling irradiance or reference radiance via switching fiber optics, Earth surface spectral reflectance or radiance is measured. With platform positioning, attitude, and altitude measurements, its data cube is precisely geo-referenced. AVSIS has a spectral resolution better than 5nm with a swath width better than 320 pixels and quantization resolution better than 10-bits. AVSIS is tightly integrated. A tightened airborne computer (weighing 20LBs) is developed to interface and power its imaging components, positioning/attitude/altitude measurement sensors, and radio-link. The power and interconnection circuits for AVSIS attachments are build-ins of the compact computer. Seamless real-time operation is implemented by intuitive graphic user interface or system automation.AVSIS achieves great expandability with its modularization and network design. AVSIS can be operated alone or as a networked node with other supplementary nodes in an imaging cluster, which includes Flight Landata?s high-resolution multispectral/photographic imaging nodes, and a future fluorescence lidar for thematic airborne remote sensing.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS The unique competitive advantage of AVSIS is that there is nothing else like it in the world; no other system offers such a favorable combination of size, weight, and capability. These features allow it to be fitted onto diverse small aircraft (manned and unmanned) to provide calibrated high quality hyperspectral data for repeatable and operational airborne remote sensing. Immediate AVSIS applications include NASA calibration/validation for the multitude of hyperspectral and multispectral satellites and new application development. The potential commercial applications of this innovative instrument product include operational airborne remote sensing services for precision agriculture, forest management, mining area management, vegetation specie maps, crop and forest growing status monitoring, forest fire forecast, coastal environment studies, ocean/water color, shallow-water bathymetry, wetland delineation, surface pollution detection, mineral exploration, hydro-carbon related material detection, and land-use surveys. Current customers who have expressed an interest in the advanced features proposed include the Army Corps of Engineers, Woods Hole, NASA, Applied Applications, and the Bureau of Land Management.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (Name, Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip) Xiuhong Sun Flight Landata, Inc One Parker Street Lawrence , MA 01843 - 1548
NAME AND ADDRESS OF OFFEROR (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip) Flight Landata, Inc One Parker Street Lawrence , MA 01843 - 1548