High f-number uncooled microbolometer performance for UAV-mounted targeting.
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| Title: | High f-number uncooled microbolometer performance for UAV-mounted targeting. |
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| Authors: | Hermann, Amy1 (AUTHOR) amynhermann@gmail.com, Burrell, Derek1 (AUTHOR) derekburrell@arizona.edu, Leslie, Patrick1 (AUTHOR) leslieps@email.arizona.edu, Hendrick, Angus James1 (AUTHOR) angushendrick@arizona.edu, Rubis, Jordan Lea1 (AUTHOR) jlrubis@arizona.edu, Jacobs, Eddie L.2 (AUTHOR) eljacobs@memphis.edu, Conroy, Joseph3 (AUTHOR) joseph.k.conroy3.civ@army.mil, Driggers, Ronald1 (AUTHOR) rdriggers@optics.arizona.edu |
| Source: | Optical Engineering. Jun2026, Vol. 65 Issue 6, p64111-64111. 1p. |
| Subjects: | Infrared imaging, Optical apertures, Drone warfare, Infrared detectors |
| Abstract: | The selection of infrared imaging systems for long-range targeting on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has historically favored low f-number systems, which maximize light collection and minimize the impacts of high noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD). However, recent developments have improved the NETDs of uncooled infrared microbolometers (UCIRs) to as low as 20 mK, which will continue to improve as τ -NETD products decrease. These advances open new opportunities for high f-number systems, particularly on small UAVs, where payload restrictions limit other methods of improving targeting ability. This study models the relationship between f-number, target contrast temperature, and range performance for aperture-constrained microbolometers. Modeled predictions are compared and verified with field measurements. Based on these results, two rules of thumb are developed and evaluated for their ability to select an f-number that maximizes targeting range. Worked examples illustrate how these RoTs can be employed to optimize the targeting abilities of UAV-mounted UCIRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Optical Engineering is the property of SPIE - International Society of Optical Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 194992910 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: High f-number uncooled microbolometer performance for UAV-mounted targeting. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hermann%2C+Amy%22">Hermann, Amy</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> amynhermann@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burrell%2C+Derek%22">Burrell, Derek</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> derekburrell@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leslie%2C+Patrick%22">Leslie, Patrick</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> leslieps@email.arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hendrick%2C+Angus+James%22">Hendrick, Angus James</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> angushendrick@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rubis%2C+Jordan+Lea%22">Rubis, Jordan Lea</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jlrubis@arizona.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jacobs%2C+Eddie+L%2E%22">Jacobs, Eddie L.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> eljacobs@memphis.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Conroy%2C+Joseph%22">Conroy, Joseph</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> joseph.k.conroy3.civ@army.mil</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Driggers%2C+Ronald%22">Driggers, Ronald</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> rdriggers@optics.arizona.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Optical+Engineering%22">Optical Engineering</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 65 Issue 6, p64111-64111. 1p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrared+imaging%22">Infrared imaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Optical+apertures%22">Optical apertures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drone+warfare%22">Drone warfare</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infrared+detectors%22">Infrared detectors</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The selection of infrared imaging systems for long-range targeting on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has historically favored low f-number systems, which maximize light collection and minimize the impacts of high noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD). However, recent developments have improved the NETDs of uncooled infrared microbolometers (UCIRs) to as low as 20 mK, which will continue to improve as τ -NETD products decrease. These advances open new opportunities for high f-number systems, particularly on small UAVs, where payload restrictions limit other methods of improving targeting ability. This study models the relationship between f-number, target contrast temperature, and range performance for aperture-constrained microbolometers. Modeled predictions are compared and verified with field measurements. Based on these results, two rules of thumb are developed and evaluated for their ability to select an f-number that maximizes targeting range. Worked examples illustrate how these RoTs can be employed to optimize the targeting abilities of UAV-mounted UCIRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Optical Engineering is the property of SPIE - International Society of Optical Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1117/1.OE.65.6.064111 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 1 StartPage: 64111 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Infrared imaging Type: general – SubjectFull: Optical apertures Type: general – SubjectFull: Drone warfare Type: general – SubjectFull: Infrared detectors Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: High f-number uncooled microbolometer performance for UAV-mounted targeting. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hermann, Amy – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Burrell, Derek – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Leslie, Patrick – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hendrick, Angus James – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Rubis, Jordan Lea – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Jacobs, Eddie L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Conroy, Joseph – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Driggers, Ronald IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00913286 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 65 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: Optical Engineering Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
