The MRSG is equipped with a big variety of high-resolution customized and specialized sensors, such as LiDAR (YellowScan Vx15-100), hyperspectral (OCI-F hyperspectral Imager), multispectral (3P SLANTRANGE, Sequoia MicaSence), thermal (Flir Vue Pro R), and optical (Sony A5100, Canon IXUS 160, Canon IXUS 140) sensors.

 

UAV LiDAR SENSOR:

• YELLOWSCAN VX15-100 

YellowScan Vx15-100 is an easy-to-use LiDAR system that includes the renowned Riegl laser scanner and Applanix UAV IMU APX-15. It is the lightest system integrating the Riegl Mini-VUX. ldeally, suited for high precision surveys such as civil engineering, powerline monitoring, 3D UAV mapping etc. Coupled with the DJI M600 it allows over 20min flight time maximizing the survey production.

Key Benefits:

• High range for higher security on uneven landscapes and vegetation
• Survey grade precision and accuracy
• Robust and reliable
• Turn-key and simple to operate
• Fully autonomous, can be mounted quickly on any drone

Key specs:

• Precision: 1cm
• Accuracy: 5cm
• Laser Wavelength: 905nm
• Size: L35 x W11 x H17
• Autonomy: 1.5 hours
• Weight: 2.6Kg
• Shots per second (100kHz): 100k over 360°

HYPERSPECTRAL CAMERA:

• OCI-F HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGER (VIS/NIR)

MRSG’s OCI™­F Series ("All-Seeing Eye") hyperspectral camera is optimized for VIS-NIR spectrum applications. Mounted on a UAV it is used for making accurate ground measurements, marine litter detection, and coastal mapping. This sensor is a miniaturized push-broom hyperspectral camera covering the full VIS-NIR (400-1000 nm) wavelength range, with a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface. It features ultra-compactness (14 cm x 7 cm x 7 cm) and lightweight (~ 570 g) with fast data transfer rates (up to 60 fps). As an innovative “true push-broom” hyperspectral imager, the OCI-F Series is not dependent on a constant scanning speed and it offers versatility on various platforms such as UAVs with perfect hyperspectral image stitching.

Key Specs:

• “True push-broom” operation mode
• 400-1000 nm spectral range
• 240 spectral bands
• 800 x scan length spatial pixels
• 16 mm (21° FOV) lens

SPECTROMETER:

• OCEAN OPTICS STS-VIS

A small spectrometer suitable for field spectral signature sampling. Connected with a Raspberry Pi micro-computer, powered by powerbank, this sensor can visualize its readings in real-time in the field through a wifi connection. MRSG possesses the version that takes measurments in the visible spectrum (350-800nm), making it an excellent instrument for marine applications.  

Key Specs:

• 350-800 nm spectral range
• Signal to noise ratio: >1500:1
• Wavelength Accuracy: 0.13 nm
• Size: 40x42x26 mm
• Weight: 60g

THERMAL CAMERAS:

• FLIR VUE PRO R

MRSG operates a FLIR VUE PRO RAD, 640, 13mm, 7.5Hz thermal camera. The Vue Pro R gives drone operators and certified thermographers the power to gather accurate, non-contact temperature measurements from an aerial perspective. Every still image the Vue Pro R saves contains accurate, calibrated temperature data embedded in every pixel, adding even more value to your sUAS operations and services than ever. Vue Pro R adds fully radiometric data-gathering to sUAS applications like building and roof inspections, power grid inspections, infrastructure analysis, precision agriculture, and public safety.

Key Specs:

• Sensor Resolution: 640x512 Pixels
• Lens Options: 13 mm
• Field of View for NTSC Analog Output: 45°(H) x 37°(V) FoV
• Frame Rate: 7.5Hz
• Weight: 72 Grams
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 2.26" x 1.75" (including lens)
• Input Voltage: 4.0 - 6.0 VDC
• Spectral Band: LWIR 7.5 µm – 13.5 µm

MULTISPECTRAL CAMERAS:

• SLANTRANGE 3P

The two MRSG SLANTRANGE 3p multispectral cameras are uniquely customized having specific bands of Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellites, for mapping coastal environments. SLANTRANGE pioneered and patented a new approach to measurement accuracy with the introduction in 2014 of onboard, band-matched solar characterization, and radiometric calibration. The MRSG customized SLANTRANGE 3p consist of Innovative new design elements that run together through the integrated hardware/software architecture to deliver the most accurate measurements available for small aircraft:

• Integrated solar spectrometer for frame-to-frame radiometrically accurate reflectance measurements (US Patents 9,470,579 and 9,791,316)
• Individual lens characterization for precise dewarping and de-vignetting
• Optimized algorithms for dynamic cross-channel registration
• Smart Filtering™, which selectively samples scene elements to avoid the contaminating effects of background soils, shadows, specular reflections, or other noise sources.

Key Specs:

• Spectral Channels (Vegetation Sensor): 4
• Spectral Channels (Ambient Illumination Sensor): 4
• Processor: Type Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 Processor Speed Quad-Core 2.26GHz On-Board RAM 2 GB Detector Type Si CMOS
• Available Spectral Range: 410 - 950 nm Band Positions Selectable Shutter Type Global Positioning & Pointing Integrated GPS/IMU with Extended Kalman Filter GSD @ 120 m AGL 4.8 cm
• Recommended Image Overlap: 20% (SlantView analytics only)
• Linear Coverage Rate @ 120 m AGL: 20 m/s 1,000 Acres/Hour 160 Acre Survey @ 120 m AGL, 20 m/s (fixed wing) 17 Minutes 160 Acre Survey @ 120 m AGL, 12 m/s (multi-rotor) 
• Size (Vegetation Sensor): 14.6 x 6.9 x 5.7 cm
• Size (Ambient Illumination Sensor): 8.1 x 3.5 x 1.7 cm
• Weight: 350 g
• Power: 11 W @ 9.0-28.0 VDC 

OPTICAL CAMERAS:

• PARROT SEQUOIA

The Parrot Sequoia is a powerful multispectral sensor in a pocket-sized package. Featuring an integrated GPS/light sensor, four narrowband imagers, and an RGB camera for digital scouting, Sequoia is optimized for crop health analysis for almost any size aircraft. 

• SONY A5100

A5100 is one of the smallest, lightest, and most affordable mirrorless cameras currently offered with an APS-C sensor. Has a very small and comfortable form factor; Very good image quality for its class; Quick autofocus and good dynamic range.

Key Specs:

• Lens: Sony SELP1650 PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
• Resolution: 24.3MP
• Processor: Bionz X
• AF system (contrast/phase): 25 / 179 point
• ISO range: 100-25600
• Max burst rate: 6 fps
• Video resolution: 1080/60p/24p

• CANON IXUS 160

One IXUS 160/PowerShot Digital ELPH 160 which sits in the middle of Canon’s super-slim IXUS line-up. It boasts a 20MP 1/2.3” CCD sensor and an 8x optical zoom lens with a 35mm-equivalent focal range of 28-224mm. This camera is used as the lightweight optical sensor in our fixed-wing Phoreas UAV with a custom made case and specific open-source software.

Key Specs:

• IMAGE SENSOR
  • Type    1/2.3 type CCD
  • Effective Pixels           Approx. 20.0M¹
  • Effective / Total Pixels           Approx. 20.5M
  • Colour Filter Type       Primary Colour
  • IMAGE PROCESSOR
• LENS
  • Focal Length   5.0 – 40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28 – 224 mm)
  • Zoom   Optical 8x
  • ZoomPlus 16x

• CANON IXUS 140

MRSG has two small and lightweight IXUS 140 sensors attached in the small quadcopters IRIS and IRIS+. The Canon IXUS 140 (also known as the Canon PowerShot ELPH 130 IS) is a new camera in the IXUS range, featuring an 8x optical zoom lens with a focal range of 28-224mm. The 16 megapixel Canon 140 offers built-in wi-fi connectivity, the DIGIC 4 image-processing engine, an optical Image Stabilizer, a 3 inch LCD screen, and a Smart Auto mode that detects 32 different scenes.

Key Specs:

• IMAGE SENSOR
  • Type    1/2.3 type CCD
  • Effective Pixels           Approx. 16.0M
  • Colour Filter Type       Primary Colour
• IMAGE PROCESSOR
  • Type    DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology
• LENS
  • Focal Length   5.0 – 40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28 – 224 mm)
  • Zoom   Optical 8x
  • ZoomPlus 16x
  • Digital Approx. 4x. (with Digital Tele-Converter Approx. 1.6x or 2.0x and Safety Zoom ¹). Combined Approx. 32x ¹
  • Maximum f/number   f/3.2 – f/6.9

Additionally, MRSG has access to various multispectral and modified cameras. These are:

• RED EDGE

RedEdge by MicaSence, is a camera that simultaneously captures five discrete spectral bands, enabling the creation of tailored indices for customized applications. It has a global shutter design that creates distortion-free images on every platform. A variety of interface options including stand-alone mode, serial, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi, give RedEdge integrators expanded flexibility. RedEdge's Downwelling Light Sensor (DLS) enables measurement of ambient light conditions during flight for more accurate data in varying light conditions.

Key Specs:

• Weight: 150 g
• Dimensions: 12.1 cm x 6.6 cm x 4.6 cm (4.8” x 2.6” x 1.8”)
• Power: 5.0 V DC, 4 W nominal
• Spectral Bands Narrowband: Blue, Green, Red, Red Edge, Near IR
• Ground Sample Distance: 8.2 cm/pixel (per band) at 120 m (400 ft.) AGL
• Capture Speed: 1 capture per second (all bands), 12-bit RAW

• Other cameras:

A modified Canon camera for NDVI surveys: Canon ENDVI (MaxMax) is able to capture Enhanced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (ENDVI), d e s i g n e d for Vegetation Stress (12.1 megapixels at 4000 x 3000 pixels)