Electro-Optical Sensors

Electro-Optical Sensors

An electro-optical (EO) sensor converts light rays into electronic signals, which are then analyzed.eo sensor They detect visible and infrared radiation, allowing warfighters to identify, track and engage targets at day or night and through atmospheric obscuration like fog, rain, and smoke.eo sensor

EO sensors are used for military and law enforcement applications and can be found in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and maritime platforms.eo sensor They deliver real-time situational awareness, including night vision capability, and are crucial for a variety of missions, such as ground and marine surveillance, search and rescue operations, airborne and naval aerial imaging, and military targeting.eo sensor

The technology behind EO/IR sensors is rapidly evolving to meet the needs of future battlefields.eo sensor Technologies include shrinking digital image pixels for higher resolution and lower SWaP; lowering sensor temperatures for greater range and resolution; combining spectral sensing for multi- and hyper-spectral imaging; and tightly integrating sensor and digital image-processing capabilities to reduce system costs, size, and weight.eo sensor

As the threat landscape expands, the need for a holistic view of the battlespace has become even more critical.eo sensor To provide this, the 3U BAM XRS supports a wide variety of EO/IR sensors, which can be integrated into a single platform for faster processing and more comprehensive situational awareness.eo sensor This information can then be shared with other systems to provide warfighters with a tactical advantage over adversaries.

A key application for EO/IR sensors is in maritime surveillance, where they can help to improve navigation and increase safety by enabling the warfighter to see objects or vessels in low-visibility conditions or through fog or smoke.eo sensor They are also useful for detecting illicit activities such as smuggling or illegal fishing, and for ensuring the safety of ports and critical maritime infrastructure.eo sensor

EO/IR sensors are also used on land, in vehicles such as UAVs and manned drones, and in a variety of other missions, such as environmental monitoring, natural disaster relief, and policing.eo sensor For example, they can be used to monitor oil spills, track volcanic activity, and study marine life.eo sensor They are also employed in search and rescue operations, where they can track people or objects at sea, in foggy or snowy conditions.

Thales’ EO/IR systems are built into a range of gimbals that can be used in airborne and land vehicles for all-weather, daytime or nighttime surveillance and reconnaissance missions.eo sensor They include technologies such as the WESCAM MX family of sensors, which is used in the Navy’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft. This family of turrets is designed to provide high-resolution imagery in both the visible and infrared spectrum for day/night or all-weather surveillance. The cameras can operate at a range of altitudes, from low-altitude for tactical surveillance to mid-altitude for covert missions. They are able to detect, follow and classify threats—including swarms of USVs or UAVs—and provide the CMS with the data needed to quickly identify and alert crew of approaching threats.