New Imaging Technlogies (NIT) has highlighted the growing importance of Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) technology in overcoming the complexities of detecting and identifying small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS).
As the adoption of small drones increases across commercial and non-cooperative applications, traditional Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) architectures face significant challenges due to low radar cross-sections, low-contrast targets against bright skies, and operations in degraded visibility. Integrating SWIR sensors and SWIR cameras alongside radar, visible, and thermal technologies offers a complementary imaging layer that operates in a reflective regime to maintain performance where standard cameras fail.
Key Advantages of SWIR Solutions
The use of SWIR technology provides distinct physical advantages for tracking and identifying targets at long distances. Atmospheric scattering is reduced compared to visible light, which helps maintain image clarity through haze and adverse weather conditions. Additionally, drone components like plastics, coatings, and composites exhibit distinct material reflectivity differences within the SWIR band, allowing for improved target differentiation. The technology also delivers superior contrast against bright or hazy sky backgrounds, aiding tracking systems when visible imaging struggles.
Extending Capabilities with Gated SWIR Imaging
The company has noted that combining SWIR solutions with gated imaging techniques further elevates system capabilities. By synchronizing very short exposure times with active illumination, gated SWIR imaging enables the selective acquisition of reflected light from a defined distance range while suppressing background clutter. This approach supports day and night operation, enhances target visibility for better identification, and extends the observation range with improved scene clarity. An illustrative example indicates that gated SWIR imaging can reveal the specific structure of a drone at a distance, improving identification compared to conventional imaging approaches.
Positioning vs Thermal Imaging
While thermal imaging remains a key technology for detecting heat signatures and serves as an effective initial detection channel, SWIR imaging captures reflected light to provide shape, structure, and reflective features. Rather than replacing thermal imaging, SWIR technology acts as a complementary layer that is particularly valuable when transitioning from the detection phase to the identification and classification phase in cluttered or bright daylight scenes.
High-Performance SWIR Solutions for Integration
To support system designers, NIT develops high-performance SWIR sensors and SWIR camera modules tailored for integration into unmanned systems and security platforms. These solutions feature resolutions ranging from qVGA to Full HD, high dynamic range up to 120 dB for challenging lighting, and high sensitivity for low-signal environments. They also support very short exposure times down to 100 ns, which directly enables gated imaging.
The hardware is available at the sensor-level, board-level, or as full camera modules with or without housing. Compatibility with existing systems is maintained through a range of standard interfaces, including USB3.0, CameraLink, HD-SDI, GigE, and Analog. As C-UAS requirements evolve, integrating these capabilities strengthens identification performance in scenarios where traditional sensing technologies struggle, and interested parties can engage with the company to explore these options further.
Read more about NIT’s Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) technology.
