Alava Ingenieros supplies fully integrated Nano-Hypersec sensor for UAS
The Spanish firm, specializing in providing high technology solutions, has supplied the first nano hyperspectral camera in the world, to be applied to the R&D project, named INTELECTA, backed by the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI).
This initiative is aimed at developing a new rotary wing UAV, featuring large payload capacity, stability and flying range, enabling the integration of thermal and multispectral micro-sensors to be applied in tasks related to tele-detection in a variety of natural environments.
With CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) as main collaborator and boosted by the firm Zumain Ingenieros, the project is intended to apply its technology in three scenarios: aquatic ecosystems, green areas and conservation of cultural heritage, all of them aimed at defining new diagnosis and analysis of data to improve its preservation and safety.
Álava Ingenieros has supplied this new system through its technological partner, Headwall Photonics, leading company in the area of design and development of cameras and imaging sensors and hyperspectral instrumentation.
The formation of hyperspectral imaging by means of a data processing system consist of gathering information alongside the electromagnetic spectrum, a technique increasingly used in areas such as agriculture and environment, medicine, scientific research, mining and defence and aerospace, among other
With over 40 years experience in supplying technological equipment, Álava Ingenieros has turned into a reference point for the vision and imaging field and the aerospace industry, thanks to its wide portfolio of specific solutions with capability to cover any need of the market and provide customers with the best service.
Madrid, 24th July.- The Spanish company Álava Ingenieros, specializing in providing high technology solutions for a variety of sectors such as defence and aerospace, has supplied the first nano hyperspectral camera Nano-Hyperspec (Headwall Photonics) in the world, a new sensor featuring very reduced size for its commercial application in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), in this case to be integrated into an UAV platform aimed at environmental detection tasks.
The system has been supplied to the company Zumain Ingenieros for the development of the research project named INTELECTA (Engineering and Spectral Teledetection for Environmental Quantification and Technification) approved by the Spanish Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI). This initiative is aimed at developing an UAV platform featuring rotary wing, large payload capacity, stability and flying range, enabling the integration of thermal and multispectral micro-sensors to be applied to tasks related to tele-detection in a variety of natural environments.The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is also collaborating in the project.
INTELECTA, in particular, is intended to be applied in three types of scenarios. On one side, in aquatic ecosystems aimed at defining a method of acquiring hyperspectral imaging and studying the space-time evolution of indirect and indirect parameters related to the EU Water Framework Directive; as well as studying invasive species of aquatic ecosystems in high precision. On the other side, they will be used in green and natural areas with the objective of detecting the nutritional state of plants and vegetal elements; monitoring its phytosanitary state, studying forest, locating polluting waste and improving the efficiency of risky systems by means of locating breakdown in water supply installations.
Finally, the Project will also use the new UAV equipped with the hiperspectral system supplied by Álava Ingenieros for the conservation of cultural heritage tasks with the intention of establishing a detection method of archaeological sites by means of non-destructive techniques. In addition, the system will analyze attributes of open-air archaeological sites.
Álava Ingenieros has supplied this system through to its technological partner Headwall Photonics, leading designer and manufacturer of imaging sensors and spectral instrumentation for industrial, commercial, and government markets, and with who it has an agreement to distribute its specialized technological systems in Spain and Portugal.
“The formation of hyperspectral imaging by means of a data processing system consist of gathering information alongside the electromagnetic spectrum, a vision technique that enables the identification of the materials composing an object and which is increasingly used in areas such as agriculture and environment, medicine, scientific research (chemistry, biotechnology, etc.), mining, industrial processes and defence and aerospace, among others”, explains Yago Sánchez, Imaging Technologies Business Unit Head at Álava Ingenieros.
The new Nano-Hyperspec sensor for commercial UAV deployment operates in the VNIR (400-1000nm) spectral range and includes onboard data processing and storage to minimize size, weight, and power constraints inherent with small, hand-launched UAVs. This sensor can be combined with optional GPS/IMU capabilities to provide an airborne configuration that is small, light, and fully integrated. The total sensor package with data processor and storage weighs approximately 1.5 lb. (0.6 kg) and just measures 76.2mm x 76.2mm x 119.4mm.
The VNIR sensor features 640 spatial bands and 270 spectral bands at a resolution of 2-3 nm. The frame rate of the Nano-Hyperspec is over 300 frames per second; usable data storage capacity is 480GB. The system is available in two options: OEM-programmable sensor configuration and High-performance sensor configuration for end-users
Reference point for UAVs and vision systems
With over 40 years of experience, Álava Ingenieros has turned into a reference point for the aerospace and vision system industry thanks to its portfolio of solutions and specific technological equipment that enables it to cover any need of the market and provide the best service to customers.
As a leading provider of high technology for Aerospace, it has a wide range portfolio of subsystems, technological solutions and associated services with this area where its components and technologies for unmanned vehicles excel, including aerial systems (UAV/RPA). In this case, it has a great variety of solutions for the air-ground segment, supplied to a number of civil and military programmes across Spain. For the UAV segment, the company supplies components for navigation, monitoring and (magnetometers and acceleratometers, actuators, AoA sensors and Side Slip sensors, Air Data Sensors, etc.), communications (datalink systems on board the aircraft, acquisition and data register, telemetry) and payloads (multi-cameras and hyperspectral cameras, LIDAR, meteorological sensors, antennas, among others).
In addition, beyond supplying technology, the company provides added value services focused on technical advice and follow-up in the technological equipment’s application process. So the company can provide a comprehensive response including diagnosis, implementation, monitoring, training and post-sales technical support.
Álava Ingenieros focuses its activity on the areas of Test & Measurement, Communications, Safety, Defence and Predictive Maintenance, so it has presence in sectors such as Aerospace, Security, Automation, Energy, Communication, Finance, Test and Research Centres, Civil Engineering, Accademia and Administration Services. The company has a workforce of 145 professionals experts in a variety of topics and has headquarters in Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza and Lisbon (Portugal).
For further information, contact:
Marta Mojarro +34 954 62 27 27 /+34 639 84 74 99
