Long-Term Radiometric Stability of Uncooled and Shutterless Microbolometer-Based Infrared Cameras

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Aerospace Engineering
• Remote Sensing

Background:

• Uncooled microbolometer cameras are suitable for space and aerial applications due to their light weight and passive operation.
• Radiometric accuracy is crucial for quantitative infrared imaging but can be affected by environmental factors.
• Existing systems require careful radiometric compensation for reliable performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of camera environment on the radiometric accuracy of uncooled microbolometer cameras.
• To propose and validate hardware and software solutions for enhancing radiometric accuracy.
• To assess the long-term stability of radiometric calibration.

Main Methods:

• Environmental impact analysis on camera radiometric performance.
• Development and testing of novel hardware and software compensation techniques.
• Long-term in-door radiometric calibration validation experiments.

Main Results:

• Environmental factors significantly influence radiometric accuracy.
• Proposed solutions effectively improve image radiometric quality.
• Radiometric calibration model demonstrated validity for approximately 3 years.

Conclusions:

• Uncooled microbolometer cameras can achieve high radiometric accuracy with proper compensation.
• The developed methods ensure reliable performance in demanding applications.
• Long-term stability of radiometric calibration is achievable, reducing maintenance needs.