Parametric methodologies and tools for first-order hyperspectral imaging sensor system design

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Parametric methodologies and tools for first-order hyperspectral imaging sensor system design

Lomheim, Terrence S. / Nussbaumer, Eric A. / Lang, Jeffrey A. / Warren, David W. / Caraballo, Nemesio

Aircraft and space-based hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors tailored for the reflective or emissive spectral regimes are being designed and developed for a wide variety of military, civil and science applications. Key sensor-level HSI system performance requirements dictate the optical, spectrometer, focal plane and data processing design parameters for a given choice of spectral instrument design and platform altitude. A detailed understanding of the performance/sensor design trade-space that is available facilitates informed decision making and planning. We have developed a spreadsheet-based sensitivity analysis tool for dispersive HSI sensors that enables rapid and meaningful investigation of candidate sensor designs over a wide variety of parametric conditions at a level of detail consistent with the first-order specification of the instrument subsystems. Our approach also facilitates: assessment of a fixed sensor design against varied atmospheric/target phenomenology assumptions, determination of sensor design drivers, and sensor design optimization. Our parametric analysis capability is illustrated by synthesizing a relatively detailed HSI dispersive design based on optical aperture diameter of 70 cm and an orbital altitude of 690 km. These two parameters are borrowed from the IKONOS commercial remote sensing system. As part of this synthesis, sensitivity enhancement by back-scanning is analyzed for the purpose of deriving both the maximum sensor contiguous scan length and the associated precision line-of-sight pitch angle rate control requirements.