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.