Intelligent robotics is one of the technologies that has the potential to fundamentally alter society. From both an industrial and social perspective. “Smart perception” is a key concept that will drive this evolution toward intelligent robotics. With the continued advancements, we could see micro-sized cameras looking at every angle, depth, mode or change in any given situation and report back with all relevant information. Consider a surgeon’s operating table being enhanced by real-time visualization of critical tissues imaged during surgery. It could be that with the innovation in hyperspectral imaging, that a car hums through traffic based on an understanding of its surroundings, including what’s around the corner or what will happen next.
Hyperspectral imaging, like other spectral imaging, collects and processes information from across the electromagnetic spectrum. The goal of hyperspectral imaging is to obtain the spectrum for each pixel in the image of a scene, with the purpose of finding objects, identifying materials, or detecting processes.
An innovation in hyperspectral imaging combines the high resolution of a linescan sensor with the capabilities of a snapshot camera, bringing to the field of robotics ‘smart perception’.
With such technology, acquiring and processing full hyperspectral images will take only seconds. This can accommodate plenty of new opportunities, especially in the life sciences and many medical applications and diagnostics, both of which are not served by existing hyperspectral camera solutions.
Choosing UKA to design and manufacture a precision lens for equipment using hyperspectral imaging ensures that our team of professionals sees your project through from beginning to end.
Equipping machines and robots with smart perception capabilities goes a step further. These systems can include smart cameras that integrate different viewing and sensing modalities into a single and less expensive system. Cameras that can recognize and scan a surface through radar technology, analyze material through a hyperspectral view, look below the surface of an x-ray component, and have the necessary on-board intelligence to acquire and merge the various data streams into the exact view needed by the applications.
Currently, a surgeon often can only rely on stills of scans via x-rays, MRI or CT scan films and live RGB camera footage. With the newer technology within reach, they would soon be equipped with live visual information that is enriched with spectral and ultrasound data all in real time and with the ability to zoom into microscopic detail.
Hyperspectral cameras will be at the basis of this evolution. They split the light reflected by an object into many spectral bands, which they capture and process separately. For each pixel in a scene, a complete spectral signature is recorded; as such, much more information is captured than what can be achieved through standard RGB imaging, which mimics what the human eye can see.
Universe Kogaku designs and manufactures optical lenses for hyperspectral imaging, security, high tech and electronic applications. We stock 1000’s of standard lens assemblies and can custom design a solution for scanners, CCTV, CCD/CMOS, medical imaging, surveillance systems, machine vision and night vision systems.