Realization of a plug-and-play, low SWAP-C, MIR imaging system utilizing a commercially available low-cost VOx microbolometer array for enabling imaging applications

In this report the development of a low SWAP-C mid-infrared imaging system is outlined. This system is designed with a commercially available Vanadium-oxide (VOx) microbolometer camera costing $250 controlled via a Raspberry Pi (RPi) and Python. The camera used was previously characterized to have a NEDT of 25 mK for an integration time of 3.43s at 7 Hz framerate, but from software modifications discussed in this paper it was found that the cameras framerate can be pushed to 32 Hz lowering this integration time to 0.75 s. Due to the low SWAP-C characteristics of the design and the plug-and-play nature of the camera paired with Python code, this system can enable MIR imaging applications that are currently limited by the SWAPC characteristics of currently available detection systems. After outlining the development of interfacing the camera with a computer/microcontroller, the cameras code is extended to a client-server operation that allows for wireless control of the imaging system. This further enables remote operation for applications such as drone-based monitoring/surveillance or trace explosives detection. The report concludes with the discussion of two potential applications of distributed imaging and spectroscopic organics detection.