Modular multi-channel imaging system for littoral observation and target detection

A series of UAS-capable multi-channel imagers have been developed under SBIR funding through NAVAIR. This paper discusses the application of these sensors to littoral observations/reconnaissance and littoral subsurface target detection. These imagers consist of a turreted multi-camera sensor head and an associated data acquisition and processing unit. A description of the sensor head, tailored for littoral operations, and the acquisition unit are given. Data collected off the coast of La Jolla, (north of San Diego) California over the last yearis used to demonstrate an environmental reconnaissance capability. The sensor systems are the EYEs series of sensors developed by Advanced Coherent Technologies, LLC (ACT). They integrate multiple 1.4 megapixel 12 bit charge-coupled devices (CCDs) into a commercial CloudCap TASE300©turret. Each CCD is coupled with filters and optics appropriate for specific operations. The acquisition and processing system is based on the Vision4ce CPU/GPU ruggedized computer system.