Goodrich is to develop night vision sensors for the US Defense Advanced Projects Agency’s (Darpa) unmanned aerial vehicles.
The three-year contract, released under Darpa’s Microsensors for Imaging (MISI) programme, will cover the design and construction of highly sensitive lightweight imaging cameras based on Goodrich’s shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors.
Goodrich’s Sensors Unlimited team will develop its indium gallium arsenide-night vision SWIR sensors into a 640 x 512 pixel resolution camera weighing less than 10g, intended for hand-launched unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, the company will deliver a 1280 x 1024 pixel head-mounted monocular.
The SWIR technology works in wavelength bands between visible and thermal cameras, an area that current night vision technology cannot see. Goodrich’s sensors are particularly suitable because they require no cooling equipment, allowing a very compact size and light weight.
