The SWaP Zenith 300 is an ultra compact, low power, low weight high performing super sensitivity MWIR (Mid Wave Infrared) cooled thermal imaging FLIR infrared camera.
The affordable Zenith 300 long range mwir cooled thermal imaging flir camera system offers smooth tight continuous optical zoom germanium lenses which provide a wide field of view (WFOV) all the way down to a Narrow Field of View (NFOV) telephoto for long range DRI multi kilometer applications.
The Zenith 300 long range mwir cooled thermal imaging flir camera system is an advanced midwave infrared (MWIR) camera system sporting continuous zoom, autofocus, and advanced image processing in a compact package ready for integration. See further while not compromising footprint or weight. A 15µm-pitch InSb focal plane array provides a 640×512 image that leverages the superior optical quality of the highly tuned athermalized and parfocal zoom lenses ranging from 28.4-0.8° HFOV.
A powerful processing engine provides electronic image stabilization, digital zoom, automatic/manual gain control, adaptive contrast control, target tracking and detection, stock and user-defined LUTs, and 32GB of onboard video/still storage. The control and video interface offers digital (CameraLink) and analog video as well as an H.264-encoded IP stream. Command over serial and/or Ethernet using connection interfaces standardized across the wide SPI long range cooled MWIR flir thermal infrared imaging camera product lines.
Mulriple long range thermal optical continuous zoom IR lenses provide a uniquely cost-effective solution for applications such as security and surveillance, fixed monitoring, defense, manned/unmanned ground and airborne platforms, and many more. SPI’s expert support in documentation and staff make the integration of the Zenith long range thermal FLIR MWIR camera products a nearly drop-in experience. The Zenith long range thermal FLIR MWIR camera cameras are also easily exportable under US Commerce regulations (non-ITAR).
- Simultaneous analog/digital output
- 2 and 1 instant NUCs
- Aerial, Airborne qualified
- Automatic Gain Control
- Image blending, full auto imaging
- Optional Target Tracking and Detection
- Electronic Image Stabilization
- Auto imaging, Ezoom
- Easy to learn, integrate, mount and deliver
- Spatial/temporal De-noise
- Picoblade and FFC hardware interfaces
- ultra long range MWIR Zoom camera
- Ideal for integration into gimbals, handheld, UAV, UAS ground, marine and airborne applications
- Low cost, lightweight, small, reliable high performing system
- Exceptional built in ultra rock steady image stabilization is included
- Available in SD and HD resolution
- Available with a wide variety of fixed and zoom Germanium lenses from long range to extreme ultra long range
- Robust, reliable, very long life system
- Easy “Drop in” integration
- Ideal for Gimbal and specialty thermal imager design
- Small, light, affordable
FEATURES:
+ User color palettes / LUT
+ Integrated NUC (non-uniformity correction)
+ Spatial/temporal De-noise
+ Automatic Gain Control
+ Image blending
+ Optional Target Tracking and Detection
+ Electronic Stabilization
+ Variable hardware interfaces
+ Simultaneous analog/digital output
Long range LWIR and MWIR cooled and uncooled FLIR Airborne reconnaissance is a critical part of military strategy. Long range Thermal infrared cameras offer a detailed overview of the battlefield, even in complete darkness. SPI has developed the only true high-definition (HD) thermal infrared camera, with advanced features that make it ideal for aerial surveillance.
Airborne reconnaissance has been an essential part of military intelligence gathering since the First World War when aircrafts fitted with cameras took aerial photographs of enemy lines and activities. Since then, aerial surveillance has progressed rapidly in line with technological developments to include some of the most advanced cameras and sensors currently available.
Airborne Reconnaissance Fuels Military Tactics
Today airborne reconnaissance is critical for gathering battlefield intelligence and monitoring the movements of troops, vehicles, and weapons. Typically, aerial surveillance is conducted by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), and miniature UAVs (drones). More than 7000 drones with surveillance capabilities were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan during wars in the early 21st century.
Recent technological developments have reduced the price of drones and increased their availability. As a result, aerial photography and surveillance have now found a plethora of non-military applications including environmental analysis, law enforcement, security, wildlife monitoring, wildfire surveillance, archaeology, urban studies, search and rescue.
Wide Area, HD Surveillance Provides a Detailed Overview of Entire Zones
Most aerial surveillance relies on video streaming to transmit images back to tactical command centers. However, optical video surveillance comes with several drawbacks. While videos can provide detailed images, their small field of view doesn’t provide a large tactical overview.
To achieve wide area surveillance and visualize the bigger picture, reconnaissance aircrafts use pods that combine many sensors to provide a series of images that are ‘stitched together’ to cover an area up to 39 square miles with high enough resolution to track individual people.
Thermal Imaging Cameras Can Visualize in Darkness
To have the upper hand in modern warfare, the military requires technology that can provide unblinking intelligence data from an entire conflict zone, day and night, in all weather conditions. Although optical cameras can now provide wide area surveillance, their images can be easily disturbed by darkness, smoke, fog, rain, and snow. The latest airborne reconnaissance aircrafts now combine optical video surveillance and passive thermal infrared camera arrays to provide a constant overview of the battlefield that is unaffected by weather and darkness.
Passive thermal imaging cameras, also known as Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, detect infrared radiation directly from objects such as people or vehicles, so no external illumination is required. The images produced correspond to thermal gradients in a scene, revealing people and objects from miles away, even in complete darkness and challenging conditions. What’s more, thermal infrared cameras can visualize objects and situations that may not be visible to the human eye, including gases and obscured objects.
Traditional surveillance and monitoring solutions often provide limited coverage, especially at night and in poor weather conditions. Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) cameras use thermal imaging or FLIR technology to provide an advanced solution for long-range imaging in all weather and light conditions.
Recent technological advances mean that MWIR mid wave infrared cameras are now widely accessible for applications from perimeter surveillance to laboratory research. SPI Corp supplies a wide range of MWIR cameras and components which offers compact size, best in class pricing and unrivaled performance. Our moray grade IR cameras will suit your needs. They are ideal for integrating into your new custom project or used as is.
Crime, terrorism, cross-border dangers, and increased awareness of potential threats mean that security, monitoring, and surveillance are more important today than ever before. Traditionally, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been used for perimeter surveillance and security imaging. However, CCTV cameras rely on detecting visible light, so their applications are limited in the hours of darkness. What’s more, perimeters and borders are often extensive areas and CCTV cameras can typically only cover areas up to 30 meter which means maintaining cameras and lights for large areas can be complicated and expensive.
Mid-Wave infrared (MWIR) thermal imaging cameras, which can operate in complete darkness and can cover many miles, and offer an advanced alternative to CCTV for round-the-clock surveillance. Furthermore, thermal imaging cameras can visualize objects and situations that may not be visible to the human eye, such as gas leaks and covered or obscured objects. Our long range thermal infrared cameras are available in gimbals, PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom), and standalone platforms. These systems offer SWaP, military grade performance, low cost, low maintenance, reliability and ruggedness for 24/7/365 uninterrupted ISR.
Thermal Infrared Cameras Can be Used in Land, Sea and Air
Thermal imaging cameras have been widely used in military applications for some time, but until recently high costs have prohibited their further application. However, recent technological advances have resulted in thermal imaging systems that are less expensive, more compact, and more reliable than their predecessors.
Thermal imaging systems are now utilized in land, marine and airborne monitoring in applications including perimeter patrol, search and rescue, police searches, wildlife research, fault detection, leak detection, mine detection, and firefighting.
MWIR for Continuous Monitoring, Radiometry and Research
MWIR cameras excel at long-range surveillance applications including airport perimeter security, vessel traffic monitoring, and critical infrastructure protection. To be detected by passive infrared cameras, infrared radiation must travel through the atmosphere to the detector. The range of LWIR cameras is often limited by absorption, scattering, and refraction of LWIR radiation by water vapor and CO2 in the atmosphere. As MWIR radiation travels through the atmosphere, it is less affected by absorption and scattering than LWIR.
As a result, MWIR cameras provide the longest detection ranges, seeing about 2.5 times further than LWIR, enabling them to detect humans, vehicles, and objects many miles away.
MWIR cameras can operate in all weather conditions and environments, including high humidity. LWIR cameras are more affected by humidity than MWIR cameras, making MWIR particularly suited to marine and coastal environments. Furthermore, MWIR cameras are also typically smaller and lighter than LWIR cameras with similar optics, making them the obvious choice in applications with space or weight limitations, such as airborne operations.
MWIR cameras provide superior sensitivity and contrast with low sensor noise, resulting in high-quality images. Clearer images are possible with MWIR as thermal contrast if often greater in the MWIR band than the LWIR band. Furthermore, the noise equivalent delta temperature for an MWIR camera with long-range optics is typically better than an LWIR, resulting in sharper images.
For tracking fast moving targets or targets with a wide temperature ranges, MWIR deliver wide dynamic range with short integration times to track and visualize the target more clearly than LWIR. MWIR cameras provide superior sensitivity and flexibility, making them ideal for use both in the field and in the laboratory.
How Do Thermal Infrared Imaging Work?
Passive thermal imaging cameras, also known as Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, detect infrared radiation directly from objects such as people or vehicles, with no external illumination required.
The electronic images produced correspond to thermal gradients in the observed scene. The infrared light detected by passive thermal imaging cameras falls into two ranges: Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR, 8µm to 12µm) and MWIR (3µm to 5µm). LWIR and MWIR cameras each have their advantages and disadvantages and which camera you should choose depends on the demands of your specific application.
Compact, Uncooled LWIR Cameras for Airborne Reconnaissance
There are two types of thermal imaging cameras: Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR), which detect light in the range 8µm to 14µm, and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR), which detect light in the range 3µm to 5µm. While MWIR cameras offer several advantages such as increased range and less disturbance by atmospheric conditions, they usually require cooling systems that can be heavy, bulky, and expensive.
Uncooled LWIR cameras are smaller, lighter, and significantly cheaper than cooled MWIR or LWIR cameras, making them ideal for use in airborne reconnaissance using drones.
HD Thermal Cameras are the Latest Development in Aerial Surveillance Technology
Imaging technologies in all applications are constantly pushing the resolution boundaries. The latest development in airborne surveillance is the commercialization of HD thermal imaging cameras.