SPONSORED: HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING
hardware and costs. Also, as push-broom cameras work on a scanning principle, it is not possible to produce video-rate 2D images.’ Recently, advances in high-
resolution sensors, electronics and optics have pushed the rate of development for push-broom technologies, with Pro-Lite Technology’s solutions leading the way. The company is a supplier of specialist equipment and services to the photonics industry, including advanced hyperspectral, multispectral and infrared imaging systems. ‘Some of the newer cameras
have internal scanning mechanisms to create the push- broom effect,’ Barnett explained. ‘As a consequence, there is no need for large external scanning mechanisms. This is also very useful for microscopy applications, as these cameras can simply attach to the c-mount of a microscope to produce hyperspectral images.’ New snapshot cameras also open up applications by providing live 2D spectral images with real-
time classification. ‘Also, if classification can be done using embedded processing, the requirements for data handling can be reduced by just requiring transmission of the classified images. Some of the newer camera technologies are also lower cost, so more accessible to wider markets,’ he added.
Looking forward: AI and SWIR For decades, hyperspectral imaging has often incurred high costs and required time-consuming processing techniques to produce meaningful data. This has limited its use in R&D and other academic applications. But things are starting to change. Barnett said: ‘Push-broom
cameras can provide excellent quality data but the resulting hypercubes are large, so data handling and storage need to be carefully considered. For many customers price remains the main issue but hopefully these cameras will be more affordable as the technology becomes more widely adopted.’ This is why developments in
“It won’t be long before spectral cameras based on MEMS sensors or mosaic filter technology are embedded on mobile phones”
image processing and AI are going to be ‘hugely important for the future of hyperspectral imaging,’ according to Barnett. ‘The combination of pattern recognition and material identification, as well as improved real-time classification, will make hyperspectral a more powerful technique and will enable the technology to be more widely used. ‘The evolving camera
hardware, combined with new image processing and AI, will undoubtedly bring spectral imaging into our daily lives and will increase the power of intelligent sensing.’ SWIR sensor developments
are also an emerging trend, providing optimal spectral
fidelity and sharp imaging optics. ‘The SWIR wavelength range is important for many applications but the cost of these sensors has historically been very high,’ Barnett explained. ‘There is potential for the newly emerging SWIR sensors to significantly reduce costs and make SWIR spectral imaging more accessible to many users.’ He added: ‘The next-gen SWIR sensors should lead to lower cost cameras, which will enable more applications in areas such as food and agricultural, security and defence, the pharmaceutical industry, as well as plastic and textile sorting/recycling.’ Pro-Lite Technology discusses
these emerging trends and a range of upcoming applications in the spectral imaging space in its new white paper Hyperspectral Imaging - A Technology Update. ‘The key message is that
spectral imaging is quickly evolving and several new approaches are opening new applications and have potential to reduce costs,’ Barnett said. EO
New White Paper now online
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Pro-Lite’s Dr Nick Barnett provides an update on the current and emerging technologies employed in commercially available multispectral and hyperspectral imagers
www.electrooptics.com/white-papers
Electro Optics
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