Low-cost Lightweight, Night Vision Capability for Hand Launched UAV System

Bodkin Design & Engineering, LLC (BD&E;) developed the world's first miniature uncooled infrared camera. The Infrared Microcam provides high-resolution thermal images that equal those available from costly cryogenically cooled cameras. The lightweight sensor head (3" x 3.9" x 3.2" weighing 7.0 oz.) uses a high resolution (320 x 240 pixel) uncooled focal plane array. This microbolometer array operates at room temperature, eliminating thermal stress and the cooler's power drain. The camera has no moving parts, making it highly reliable and compact. Its patented tethered sensor head permits it to be placed in smaller spaces than previously possible, thereby enabling new applications for thermal imaging. Designed for and demonstrated on the Hand-Launched Pointer UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), the camera's compact rugged design, low power drain (4.5 watts), and wide operating temperature range (-20 to 60 °C.) enables its use across a wide range of demanding environments. The highly sensitive camera responds to temperature differences smaller than 0.1 °C, and captures video-like imagery at high frame rates (30Hz) without blooming, blurring, or trails.