SCD has developed the first short-wavelength IR (SWIR) detector that integrates event-based IR and optical imaging (writes Nick Flaherty).

The SWIFT-EI uses an InGaAs detector with a resolution of 640 x 512 with 10 µm pixels. It integrates a ReadOut Integrated Circuit that provides two parallel video channels in one sensor, a standard imaging SWIR video channel, and a frame-event imaging channel capable of up to 1500 frames/second.

Rather than having the whole video frame as the output, an event-driven sensor just outputs any changes in the frame. That reduces the amount of data that needs to be processed and sent by a UAV. 

The event-based imaging channel can be used for laser event spot detections and multi-laser spot asynchronous laser pulse detection capabilities, while the SWIR event-based imaging increases the scope of target detection and classification for autonomous UAVs by showing thermal images.