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Electro Optic Infrared Sensor Systems
Electro Optic Infrared Sensor Systems
The electro optical infrared (EO/IR) system market is a multibillion dollar business that encompasses the design, integration, and delivery of military and civilian EO/IR systems.electro optical infrared sensor systems EO/IR systems use a variety of different sensors to detect and track objects based on their thermal signatures and transmitting this information back to operators for command and control. These systems are used by military and commercial entities for a variety of applications, including target acquisition and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance (ISR), threat warning, mobility (including degraded visual environments), and more.
In order to meet these diverse requirements, manufacturers of EO/IR sensor systems must continually innovate in the areas of imagers, optics, detectors, signal and image processing, displays, and human vision.electro optical infrared sensor systems The EO/IR Systems Engineering Certificate provides the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage the entire life cycle of an EO/IR system.
The EO/IR System Engineering Certificate includes courses on the fundamentals of electro optical infrared sensor systems, including theory, modeling, simulation, performance evaluation, test procedures, and system design. The program will also provide an overview of the latest technologies in this field.
Several key developments are driving the growth of this market. These include the development of UAVs equipped with EO/IR systems, which are being used by the military for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the overall EO/IR systems market, with stringent lockdown regulations and restricted travel causing significant delays in production and shipment of military hardware.
However, these challenges are being overcome by vendors. For example, new optical technology is allowing for greater sensor resolution and pixel pitch. This, in turn, is allowing for more detail and broader situational awareness for warfighters. This third-generation sensing capability can help enhance weapons sights and enable gunners to accurately shoot at targets that they can see.
Another area of ongoing innovation is reducing the size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP) of EO/IR sensors. This is particularly important for on-orbit systems, where every gram counts, explains Jeff Schrader, vice president for global situational awareness at Lockheed Martin Corp. Space Systems segment in Denver, Colorado.
Currently, a lot of effort is being invested in shrinking the size of image pixels and lowering their power consumption. This can lead to higher performance in a smaller package, which is crucial for military and commercial drones and other unmanned vehicles.
This is especially true for long-wavelength infrared cameras, which are commonly used on platforms such as UAVs. However, this approach can have tradeoffs involving sensitivity, range, and resolution. To improve these tradeoffs, a number of different approaches are being pursued by vendors, including the use of high-efficiency bolometers and a range of other optical elements. Another option is the use of nanostructured materials, which offer a number of advantages over traditional optics, such as high efficiency and low SWaP. These options can lead to increased sensor performance while lowering costs and increasing reliability. This is helping to increase the usability and affordability of military EO/IR systems, which are increasingly being integrated with other sensors.
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