Geoscan Group, in collaboration with the Scientific and Technological Center for Unique Instrument Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has presented Russia's first single-sensor multispectral camera for shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging from unmanned aerial vehicles. The development significantly surpasses previous domestic counterparts in resolution and functionality: the device simultaneously captures images in four spectral channels with a resolution of 4.8 megapixels - more than 15 times higher than typical SWIR matrices (640×512 pixels).
The new camera opens up broad prospects for the use of drones in tasks where spectral sensitivity is critical: from geological exploration and environmental monitoring (including the detection of oil spills) to agricultural technologies and vegetation analysis.
By registering reflected radiation in the 900-1700 nm range, the system allows identifying the mineralogical composition of rocks, assessing soil moisture, and the physiological state of plants - parameters inaccessible when shooting in the visible spectrum.
The camera was tested on the basis of the Geoscan 201 automated system. Test flights confirmed the high quality of images: sharpness, minimal noise level, and stable formation of four-channel images.