Leading researcher joins photonics company board!

Dr Melba Crawford, Associate Dean of Engineering for Research, Director of the Laboratory for Applications of Remote Sensing, and Chair of Excellence in Earth Observation at Purdue University, has been elected to the Headwall Photonics's Board of Directors.

Dr Melba Crawford

Dr. Crawford is a leading expert in the field of remote sensing and agronomy with a focus on data analysis and image classification, particularly for agricultural applications. Dr. Crawford previously served as President of the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society.

"With experience working with imaging sensors deployed on satellites to hyperspectral sensors built for small UAVs, Melba has a very distinguished track record not only of teaching the science of remote sensing, but of successfully deploying the technology across her fields of study," said David Bannon, Headwall's CEO. "I believe that her experience will help to further establish Headwall as a leading spectral instrumentation company with global impact, especially in the rapidly-growing field of remote sensing and crop science."

"Headwall continues to pioneer the design and deployment of spectral imaging technology across all the markets it serves," said Crawford. "In the field of remote sensing, we're always looking at new ways of observing and monitoring the environment to improve agricultural yield, assess the health of our natural resources, and contribute to our overall knowledge of the planet," continued Crawford. "I am excited to join the Headwall Board."

Airborne sensors covers broad spectral range of 400-2500nm

Headwall has released the Hyperspec® VNIR-SWIR sensor for general availability. The high-performance airborne sensor is versatile and covers the broad 400-2500nm spectral range. Precise, high-resolution imaging is achieved through co-registered pixels utilising a single fore-optic input for outstanding spectral fidelity across the entire spectral range.

Designed for remote sensing applications such as environmental monitoring and mineral exploration, the sensor is optimised for size, weight, and reduced power consumption. With a weight less than 30 pounds and a small form factor package (approximately 15" x 15" x 8"), the sensor is designed for use aboard a wide range of airborne platforms. Adding to high image quality is the sensor's very wide field of view and high signal-to-noise (SNR) performance. Headwall has accomplished this by combining the high diffraction ef­ficiency for the VNIR and SWIR spectral regions coupled with very high quantum efficiency of the electronic subsystems.

Pixel co-registration plus aberration-cor­rected optics yields very high spectral and spatial resolution with repeatable measurement accuracy - unparalleled in the industry. With diffractive optics spe­cifically designed and manufactured by Headwall, the patented hyperspectral sensor eliminates image aberrations such as keystone, smile, or stray light and thermal variation that is typically observed with transmissive-based sensors containing prisms and gratings.

"Our remote-sensing customers often need to cover both the VNIR and SWIR spectral ranges but until now, there has not been a hyperspectral sensor capable of reliably providing both VNIR & SWIR data," said Headwall CEO David Bannon. "We developed this co-boresighted and co-registered VNIR-SWIR sensor to avoid the complexities of multi-sensor deployments while keeping the sensor size, weight, and power consumption very low."

Headwall's Hyperspec VNIR-SWIR sensor is also sold with a complete airborne configuration including GPS/INS, high-speed processor and storage, and airborne Hyperspec III software for sensor control and data acquisition.

Headwall's VNIR-SWIR sensor is available for delivery approximately 8 weeks after receipt of order. Headwall's application engineering team is available to assist customers with airborne integration and training.

More news from Boston this time in fine arts!

People in Conamara, where Read-out resides, have been full of the news of the election of the new Mayor in Boston, both of whose parents came from the area. Here we have another story from that historic city.

The conservators at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston (MFA) and the application engineering team at Headwall Photonics collaborated on a hyperspectral project to analyse some of the world's most treasured paintings, artifacts, and documents.  

Utilising Headwall's large-format Hyperspec Scanning System which is specifically designed for museums and libraries, artwork and antiquities were scanned with Hyperspec sensors for both the VNIR (Visible - Near-Infrared) and SWIR (Short Wave Infrared) spectral ranges. The benefit of using dual sensors is that a particular artifact or document can be thoroughly scanned across the VNIR and SWIR range, yielding a wealth of valuable and never-before-seen spectral information relative to pigments, inks, materials, and features. Classifying this spectral data gives collection-care experts around the world new insight into the valuable assets they manage.

Matthew Siegal, Chair of Conservation and Collections Management at the Boston's MFA, indicated that "hyperspectral collaboration with Headwall yielded a wealth of information; additionally, the research team jointly worked to establish the necessary work procedures and protocols to protect the historical artifacts throughout the scanning process."

"For the purpose of cultural preservation, hyperspectral imaging is an invaluable tool that offers conservators the ability to analyze and assess the current state of the historical objects over time," said Headwall Engineering Director, Peter Clemens. "Additionally, there is a wealth of new research information on these historical objects that becomes uncovered through the use of these spectral imaging techniques." With both vertical and horizontal scanning system orientations possible, and the use of non-destructive illumination, conservators utilize hyperspectral imaging to provide additional analysis of artifacts and antiquities that may hold answers to long-held secrets and cultural insights.

During the project collaboration with Boston's MFA conservators, the Headwall engineers scanned a wide range of objects including famous paintings, a Mayan vase, wood block prints, a chessboard, and a marble relief sculpture. Hyperspectral sensing is applicable not just for flat art such as paintings and documents, but for pottery and other artifacts as well. Scanning of an important Mayan vase yielded the presence of cracks never before seen allowing for better preservation steps for the valuable piece.

Distributor for France & Switzerland appointed!

Responding to significant business growth across Europe, Headwall Photonics has named Bonsai Advanced Technologies to be its distributor of record for both France and Switzerland. The agreement was effective July 1, 2013. Principal contact at Bonsai is  Eric Bécourt, with regional headquarters in southern France.

Eric Bécourt

In announcing the appointment, Headwall European Sales Manager Kevin Lynch noted Bonsai's high degree of experience in spectral imaging and, in particular, remote sensing and industrial inspection. "We are very impressed with the level of technical understanding at Bonsai with respect to our market-leading hyperspectral sensors. They will be able to effectively demonstrate and differentiate our technology to their broad base of accounts all across France and Switzerland."

Headwall's award-winning family of Hyperspec sensors are used in applications ranging from ground-based and handheld all the way up to aircraft and earth-orbiting satellites. Hyperspectral imaging represents a required tool for the scientific research community, which can quickly and non-destructively image anything within the field of view to determine its chemical and spectral fingerprint. Headwall's sensors take advantage of diffractive optics, which use aberration-corrected gratings to deliver high performance with respect to high spatial and spectral resolution, high signal-to-noise, and a wide field of view. Remote sensing using small and light sensors mounted to hand-launched UAVs is a fast-growing application area that Headwall has pioneered. Other application areas include advanced machine vision, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and mining & mineral exploration.

Mr. Bécourt has 23 years of experience in the analytical business, especially in the spectroscopic and NIR markets. He remarked on Headwall's innovation and technical leadership: "Our customers in France and Switzerland embrace innovation and technology just as Headwall does," he said. "They understand that hyperspectral imaging represents a valuable tool for their scientific research efforts and will be very pleased to know that we can bring those solutions to them."

Sorting grain and beans!

Hyperspectral sensors provide data-rich feedback for the food industry

A new precision hyperspectral collaboration is to be used in grain, seed and bean sorting by QualySense (Dübendorf CH). The Hyperspec Extended VNIR sensors, from Headwell, which operate in the spectral range of 550-1650nm, will provide a higher level of precision during the analysis of seeds and grains.

The unique ability of Headwall's sensors to assess and inspect quality levels of seeds and grains based on spectral characteristics positions QualySense as an innovative leader in this important industry of crop science. Through collaboration with Headwall, the QualySense QSorter systems will be able to classify and sort grains based on nutrients and contamination levels. Waste will be minimized because hyperspectral sensing has the ability to eliminate only those seeds and grains that specific algorithms deem to be of poor quality. Foods made from those commodities will be more effectively processed, utilized, and priced based on quality parameters assessed during the high-throughput, hyperspectral inspection process.

David Bannon, Headwall CEO, noted how hyperspectral sensing is playing an innovative role in food quality and safety: "QualySense is a perfect example of how our technology can be used to deliver cost-effective innovation to processors of seeds and grains. With the QSorter instruments, quality can be determined more precisely than ever and in real time."

Dr. Francesco Dell'Endice, QualySense CEO, explained the key role that innovative technology can play. "Food producers need a highly resolved way of determining protein and oil content, color, size and other meaningful characteristics while increasing product consistency. Hyperspectral sensing represents a tremendous technical leap forward because it gives our customers a new view on quality. Headwall's Hyperspec sensor provides exceptional spectral and spatial imaging and does so with the processing power required for high-throughput food inspection."

Hyperspectral imaging

Headwall Photonics Simplifies Hyperspectral Imaging with its new Hyperspec UV Starter Kit

Headwall Photonics has introduced its simple-to-use Hyperspec UV Starter Kit that provides everything needed to evaluate and categorize the spectral composition of materials and samples within the UV spectral region. The new hyperspectral imaging system is designed for laboratory researchers in a wide range of application areas including forensics, document examination, and biotechnology analysis.

Each Hyperspec UV Starter Kit comes complete with a high-performance Hyperspec UV imaging spectrometer optimized for the 250nm-600nm UV-VIS spectral range. A gantry assembly, specially calibrated power-stabilized lighting, linear stage and controller, and a processor engine loaded with Headwall's Hyperspec software completes the system. Headwall's available Hyperspec Data Processing Unit manages the incoming hyperspectral data, while an optional enclosure eliminates the effect of stray light. Both are available as accessories for the Starter Kit.

"The Hyperspec UV imaging configuration is designed specifically for the >analysis of materials such as forensic evidence or biological samples where optimized spectral and spatial resolution is needed," offered David Bannon, CEO of Headwall Photonics. >Document and currency verification, forensics, food andpharmaceutical inspection, and chemical analysis are just a few of the areas where hyperspectral UV imaging can deliver a wealth of valuable data. "Headwall developed the Hyperspec Starter Kit a number of years ago as a means to get our customers up and running very quickly with hyperspectral technology. We continue to invest in this platform and the Hyperspec UV Starter Kit is a response to customer demand for chemical imaging instruments optimized for the UV spectral region."

Headwall Photonics is a recognized pioneer in the field of hyperspectral imaging. Its Hyperspec and Micro-Hyperspec sensors have been successfully deployed for end-users and OEMs in applications includingmilitary/defense, airborne and ground surveillance, and food safety, and pharmaceutical inspection. Key to delivering outstanding spatial and spectral resolution as well as high signal-to-noise (SNR) performance is Headwall's focus on diffractive optics and aberration-corrected holographic gratings. This award-winning technology is complemented by the Company's ISO-9001:2008 certification and vertically-integrated manufacturing capabilities.

Head of Engineering & Development!

Peter Clemens has been named Headwall's Director of Engineering and Development. Peter brings thirty years of engineering and applications expertise in the design and development of optical imaging platforms. His experience working in engineering and operations has resulted in over 50 different imaging products brought from design development into full-scale production.

Before joining Headwall, Pete was Technical Director of Operations at BAE Systems. While at BAE, Pete held many roles within systems engineering, engineering management and operations. Over that time period, the company transitioned several times, from Honeywell electro-optics to Loral infrared imaging systems to Lockheed Martin imaging systems and then finally to BAE Systems.

David Bannon, CEO of Headwall Photonics, said that Pete's track record complements Headwall's spirit of innovation perfectly. "With experience working for four of the world's top scientific engineering companies, Pete brings a broad base of technical expertise and engineering management to Headwall's product development and engineering initiatives."

As a fast growing company, Headwall Photonics has established a leading position as a designer and manufacturer of innovative spectral instruments and advanced optics for industrial customers, research organizations, and military/defense applications.

Handheld, rugged hyperspectral sensor recognized as one of the world's most technologically significant products

R&D Magazine has just announced that the Hyperspec^® RECON™ hyperspectral sensor has been chosen as a recipient of a 2012 R&D 100 Award. The annual award competition is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. An independent judging panel along with editors of R&D Magazine chose the top 100 products; results were made public today.

"We are extremely proud to win this very prestigious award," said David Bannon, CEO of Headwall Photonics. "The core technologies that differentiated Hyperspec RECON in the eyes of the judging panel--very high spatial and spectral resolution and high-efficiency diffractive optics--are fundamental to all our hyperspectral sensors."

Rita Peters, Editorial Director for R&D Magazine, notified Headwall Photonics that its Hyperspec RECON sensor was chosen as one of the 100 most technologically significant products introduced in the past year. "On behalf of the R&D staff, I would like to congratulate the project team on the design, development, testing, and production of this remarkable product."

Formal presentation and acceptance of the award will take place November 1, 2012 in Orlando.

Safe sensors in food!

Headwall Photonics has announced that their CEO David Bannon recently met with USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan to discuss Headwall sensor technology developed through close collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service organisation.

The following Headwall Hyperspec® sensors are COTS products and are available as optimized sensors for the following spectral regions:
UV 250 - 600nm
VNIR 380 - 1000nm
Extended VNIR 550 - 1700nm
NIR 900 - 1700nm
SWIR 950 - 2500nm

The success of recent USDA and FDA initiatives such as the Food Safety Modernisation Act and expansion of the HACCP Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) are in part dependent upon the incorporation of new techniques, protocols, and instrumentation that are consistent with food safety regulations and enhanced food quality objectives and provide US food producers with increased competitive capabilities.

For a number of years, Headwall Photonics has worked closely with researchers and scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the agency's chief scientific research organisation, to develop spectral imaging instruments for high speed, in-line inspection of food and agriculture products. These spectral vision systems utilise a specialised processing algorithm that is tailored to the specific product or agricultural inspection algorithm.

"Through ongoing collaboration with USDA researchers, Headwall continues to develop cost-effective, compelling spectral solutions that support improvements in food safety inspection and food quality while meeting the need of food processors for high throughput inspection," offered David Bannon, CEO of Headwall Photonics. "Our hyperspectral sensor platform has been specifically designed for these critical applications."

Headwall's hyperspectral in-line imaging instruments represent a critical inspection technology that allows food processors and agricultural researchers to identify product characteristics within the field of view of the sensor based on the sample's chemical 'fingerprint' or spectral signature rather than relying solely on visual appearance. Based on a patented sensor design, Headwall's Hyperspec Inspector™ sensors are specifically designed for high spectral and spatial imaging in very harsh operating environments such as required within food processing centers. Headwall's hyperspectral imaging platforms have been optimized for reliable, cost-effective performance based on years of deployment within military and defense organizations.

Crop health information

Though maybe not strictly automation we thought this an interesting application.

Agricultural Data Collection aboard UAVs!

Headwall Photonics' Micro-Hyperspec® imaging sensor is being successfully deployed aboard very small commercial UAVs to help agriculturalists and researchers monitor vegetation over wide areas. Accurate spectral scenes of farmlands and crop fields can now be quickly rendered using this technology. Detailed crop-health information can be gathered by placing these miniaturized hyperspectral imagers on long-duration commercial UAVs, which crisscross farmland to yield a mosaic of data-rich images.

Headwall worked collaboratively with Pablo Zarco-Tejada, a Principal Investigator at the Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (IAS) in Spain. "This is a critically useful deployment of our technology by a leading researcher in the remote sensing community," said David Bannon, CEO of Headwall Photonics. "Hyperspectral imaging allows agricultural experts across the globe to make crop and vegetation decisions that will enrich the lives of everyone." He noted the need for precision hyperspectral imaging solutions that are small, light, and rugged. "Size, weight and power requirements are important concerns when deploying this technology aboard airborne vehicles, so we developed and engineered the aberration-corrected Micro-Hyperspec sensor with that in mind."

With a small size and fully integrated payload weight of less than 1.5 lbs., the Micro-Hyperspec imaging sensor is an ideal sensor for very small UAV platforms. The Micro-Hyperspec is available in VNIR configurations (380-1000nm) and NIR configurations (900-1700nm). The Micro-Hyperspec is available as a complete airborne configuration consisting of a small, accurate GPS/INS unit, data processing engine with high capacity, solid state drive, and application software necessary to acquire and display hyperspectral datacubes with exceptional spectral and spatial resolution.

Pablo Zarco-Tejada commented on the success of the collaborative effort between IAS and Headwall: "We've pioneered this technology aboard unmanned airborne platforms and the data we're able to collect about agriculture and croplands helps us make life-enriching decisions for everyone." A mosaic of the flight patterns yields a tremendous amount of useful data about the vegetation below. The use of long-duration UAVs means better stability aloft, and larger data volumes stored during each flight. "Headwall's Micro-Hyperspec technology and their applications support have allowed us to achieve what matters most in our field of work: outstanding spectral/spatial resolution and high dynamic range in a rugged, small-form-factor package."