One of the high-priority areas of interest for imec is hyperspectral imaging — a technique to capture the light that is reflected by an object or transmitted through a material, and to reveal a maximum of spectral information from that reflected light.
Up till recently, you could only engage in hyperspectral imaging with heavy and expensive pieces of equipment, with large computers to process all the data. Naturally, that limited the application of hyperspectral imaging to specific contexts – mostly heavily funded research labs.
Luckily, times have changed. Thanks to advances in hyperspectral imaging technology, there are now affordable, compact and user-friendly devices that can be integrated into drones, satellites or production lines.
• agriculture – Often mounted on drones, light-weight hyperspectral cameras can detect the smallest differences in plants or soils and inform farmers and researchers about diseases, droughts, and so on.
• machine vision – Automated industrial processes such as classification, error detection and sorting benefit from a technology that can clearly and quickly distinguish superficially identical entities.
• medicine – Thanks to real-time hyperspectral imaging, it’s now possible to use hyperspectral imaging to inspect living tissue, for instance in diagnostic tools or during surgery.
• art and heritage – Historical artefacts have many stories to tell. The challenge is to uncover their secrets without touching, and sometimes even moving them. That’s where portable, high-resolution hyperspectral cameras come in.
• remote sensing – More and more observational satellites leave for space with a hyperspectral sensor on board. It enables them to make out the spectral signatures of soil, vegetation, minerals, etc.
• forensics – Hyperspectral imaging’s ability to detect spectral fingerprints includes those of materials such as blood or gun powder. It identifies such markers at a crime scene without using chemicals that could tamper with the evidence.
Up till recently, you could only engage in hyperspectral imaging with heavy and expensive pieces of equipment, with large computers to process all the data. Naturally, that limited the application of hyperspectral imaging to specific contexts – mostly heavily funded research labs.
Luckily, times have changed. Thanks to advances in hyperspectral imaging technology, there are now affordable, compact and user-friendly devices that can be integrated into drones, satellites or production lines.
Applications of hyperspectral imaging
With the advent of more compact hyperspectral cameras and real-time hyperspectral imaging, a set of new applications comes to light. Some examples:• agriculture – Often mounted on drones, light-weight hyperspectral cameras can detect the smallest differences in plants or soils and inform farmers and researchers about diseases, droughts, and so on.
• machine vision – Automated industrial processes such as classification, error detection and sorting benefit from a technology that can clearly and quickly distinguish superficially identical entities.
• medicine – Thanks to real-time hyperspectral imaging, it’s now possible to use hyperspectral imaging to inspect living tissue, for instance in diagnostic tools or during surgery.
• art and heritage – Historical artefacts have many stories to tell. The challenge is to uncover their secrets without touching, and sometimes even moving them. That’s where portable, high-resolution hyperspectral cameras come in.
• remote sensing – More and more observational satellites leave for space with a hyperspectral sensor on board. It enables them to make out the spectral signatures of soil, vegetation, minerals, etc.
• forensics – Hyperspectral imaging’s ability to detect spectral fingerprints includes those of materials such as blood or gun powder. It identifies such markers at a crime scene without using chemicals that could tamper with the evidence.