A team of researchers in Norway has developed a low-cost, 3D printed hyperspectral imager device which could be installed on UAVs to give them advanced imaging capabilities.
A study in the journal Optics Express details how to make the hyperspectral imager for about $700, which is significantly cheaper than existing tools of a similar caliber.
Hyperspectral imaging devices, for those unfamiliar, are not totally unlike color cameras you may be accustomed to, except that instead of only working with a color array based off of just three colors (RGB), they can detect hundreds of colors.
Presently, the research team is working on improving the imaging device’s sensitivity, as it is not quite as powerful as its more expensive counterparts: “There are many ways to use data acquired by hyperspectral imagers,” explains Fred Sigernes, the project’s leader from the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) in Norway. “By lowering the cost of these instruments, we hope that more people will be able to use this analytical technique and develop it further.”
The lightweight (200g) 3D printed device was tested using an octocopter UAV. Balanced with the help of a two-axis electronic stabilizing setup, the low-cost hyperspectral imager reportedly “performed well,” successfully detecting different elements of the landscape below it. The research team reportedly used a desktop 3D printer to manufacture customized holders for the device’s optics. According to Sigernes, the team opted to use plastic 3D printing rather than metal to cut back on time and costs: “3D printing with plastic is inexpensive and very effective for making even complex parts, such as the piece needed to hold the grating that disperses the light. I was able to print several versions and try them out,” he said. Down the line, the researchers say metal will be considered to make the device more durable.
