Airborne System

Yes, you can use your own UAV, provided it can carry the payload mass of the airborne system you purchase. The system masses are available on the Airborne page (table above). You will need to mount the imager directly or with a gimbal and provide power for the hyperspectral camera and the flight computer.

Hyperspectral imaging combines the powerful science of spectroscopy with the context provided by digital cameras. Each pixel of a hyperspectral image contains data for many tens or even hundreds of contiguous spectral channels.

In contrast, RGB images (like the camera in your cell phone) contain data for just 3 channels (red, green, and blue), while multispectral images generally consist of between 4 and 16 spectral channels.

The abundance of data provided by hyperspectral imaging allows your remote sensing system to detect subtle differences between objects, enabling you to "see" things that are invisible to other imaging modes, including the human eye.

 

In short, the answer is “it depends”.

The spatial resolution of an airborne hyperspectral system determines the smallest item that can be detected. Spatial resolution depends on the field of view of the imager (determined by the objective lens), the distance from the target (related to the aircraft's height above ground level), and the number of spatial pixels in the imager.

For instance, using a Pika L (with 900 spatial pixels) equipped with a 17mm objective lens (providing a 17.6° full field of view) while flying at 100 meters above ground with a framerate that produces square pixels will result in a spatial resolution of approximately 3.5 cm. Resonon offers software that can calculate this resolution, along with other essential parameters for airborne hyperspectral imaging.

Airborne hyperspectral imaging and LiDAR are effectively complementary technologies, as their data outputs differ significantly.

Airborne hyperspectral imaging generates a datacube, which is a 3-dimensional image with two spatial axes and a spectral axis. This datacube provides high-resolution spectral data with many tens or hundreds of channels. Although the datacube is 3-dimensional, it does not contain any information about the height of objects in the scene. The spectral data captured provides a map of the spectral signatures recorded in the scene. These spectral signatures allow for identification of all different types of materials and situations (e.g., plant species, insect infestations, crop health, minerals, soil health, etc.) on a per-pixel basis.

 In contrast, LiDAR produces a three-dimensional point cloud that maps height of the scanned scene. While the geometry of the scene is captured with high-precision, little to no information about the materials of the objects within the scene is obtained.

Generally, it is best to collect data under sunny and calm (low or no wind) conditions.

Precipitation and high winds can ground any aircraft, especially UAVs (drones). The aircraft specifications for your aircraft should list the maximum wind velocity in which the aircraft can safely fly.

Clouds reduce the amount of available light for capturing hyperspectral images, consequently limiting the framerate at which high-quality data can be acquired. This means that you will need to fly slower to capture high-quality data, which will reduce the ground coverage of your survey.

To assess if there is sufficient light at a given framerate, you can utilize the 'Run Auto Expose' feature in the Resonon Ground Station software. For more details on this process, consult the Auto Expose Settings section of the Airborne User Manual.

The optimal spectral range for your application depends on the specific spectral characteristics of the object(s) you are imaging. Unfortunately, there isn't a convenient reference for spectral signatures of objects.

Our Sales Team has extensive experience with hyperspectral data collection and may be able to recommend a suitable spectral range for your application. 

On our Research Publications page, you can find numerous articles describing hyperspectral imaging of various objects using Resonon hyperspectral cameras. 

If feasible, you can send the object you want to detect directly to us at Resonon. We can perform preliminary scans using different cameras and then recommend the spectral range that best suits your application.

Similar to the previous question about spectral range choice, the answer largely depends on the spectral features of the object(s) you aim to detect. Additionally, other factors such as required resolution, aircraft payload capacity, and desired flight time will play a role in choosing the optimal hyperspectral camera.

If you contact one of our Sales Team members, they will work with you to determine the most suitable Resonon hyperspectral camera for your specific application.

No, you cannot view the hyperspectral data in true real-time. If flying on a UAV, the collected data is only accessible for review after the UAV has landed and you can connect to the Airborne system hard drive with a computer.

If flying on a crewed aircraft, it is possible to stop the data collection and access the hard drive for data review, if there is a person onboard with access to the hard drive and a laptop. But, even then, data collection must stop while one is transferring the data from the hard drive to a laptop.

In general, a gimbal is not required. Resonon provides direct mount options for integration with most UAVs, and some UAVs come equipped with payload vibration isolators. For crewed aircraft, Resonon offers a mount with built-in vibration isolation to integrate the airborne system with the aircraft.

If you are unsure whether a gimbal is necessary for your airborne application, please contact one of our Sales Team members who can assess your specific requirements and provide a recommendation.

Yes, Resonon offers in-person training, either at Resonon (located in Bozeman, Montana) or at your facility.

We have tutorial videos that are useful for training purposes. See the Tutorial Videos section on our Library page for the latest videos.

Please note that Resonon does not offer training for piloting, operating, or maintaining crewed or uncrewed aircraft. However, if you choose to purchase the Fully-Integrated Airborne Hyperspectral System, you can opt for combined training, which covers both the hyperspectral system (by Resonon) and UAV operation (by Vision Aerial) in a single session.