Physical Sciences Inc. SBIR Phase II Award, December 2019

Physical Sciences, Inc. will develop a beach zone mine detection capability based on a novel, high-speed visible-near infrared, shortwave infrared hyperspectral imaging (VNIR/SWIR HSI) sensor. The VNIR/SWIR HSI sensor employs a digital micromirror device as agile, programmable entrance slits into VNIR and SWIR grating spectrometer channels, each with two-dimensional focal plane arrays. This architecture enables rapid hyperspectral data generation with high spatial resolution supporting fast speed of advance and high specificity airborne mine detection. The sensor will be able to acquire 512×512 (spatial)×80 (spectral) hyperspectral datacubes in 0.4 s with a 10 cm ground sample distance from a 900-ft altitude. The HSI is projected to achieve a minimum detectable reflectivity modulation of 0.2% enabling detection and discrimination from beach zone clutter of key spectral phenomenology including disturbed sand, grain size, vegetation stress, and surface mines. The sensor will be coupled with an advanced detection algorithm which performs in situ clutter characterization, anomaly detection and spectral, shape, and feature matching against key targets. A prototype VNIR/SWIR HSI and real time anomaly and target detection algorithm will be developed and deployed on a commercial unmanned aircraft system for advanced technology demonstrations in beach zones under the proposed program.