Aibot X6 carries Headwall’s Nano-Hyperspec sensor: Leica Geosystems, Aibotix and Headwall Photonics provide as of now an integrated high performance airborne sensor solution using a hyperspectral imager and the Aibot X6 UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle). The Nano-Hyperspec sensor was optimised in terms of size, weight, and power to enable the aerial acquisition of all spectral and spatial data within the scene of interest. A UAV with integrated Headwall sensor has already been successfully flown and will be presented at this year’s INTERGEO in Berlin.

For geological mapping in the vicinity, for example landfills and open mine sites can be overflown to quickly and efficiently track precious metals or minerals. Environmental monitoring and research to derive contamination of soil or water is determined spectrally from the air quickly using the Aibotix UAV and Nano-Hyperspec sensor.

The Nano-Hyperspec sensor measures only 76.2 mm x 76.2 mm x 119.4 mm and weighs less than 0.68 kg. A key enabling feature is that this sensor is integrated with a high speed data processor and high capacity flash storage. The sensor collects image data across 640 spatial bands and 270 spectral bands with a Visible-Near-Infrared (VNIR) range of 400-1,000 nm. The field of view is exceptionally wide, meaning that flight swath efficiency is maximized to cover as much territory as possible while the UAV is aloft. Further, it delivers crisp image data not only directly underneath the flight path but off to the edges.

The integrated data storage is 480 GB, which will yield more than two hours at a frame-rate collection rate of about 100 fps, which is matched to the actual performance of the UAV itself. The direct-attached GPS with IMU yields the ability to generate ortho-rectified imagery data products. Finally, the Nano-Hyperspec comes pre-loaded with an airborne version of its Hyperspec III application software that manages sensor operation, image acquisition, and sensor performance while aloft. Hyperspec III software is designed to work in a complementary fashion with the GPS/IMU as well as incoming LiDAR data to collect spectral data and generate a completely integrated hyperspectral data cube.