Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWSA Universal Spectral Imaging Sensor Platform for Industry, Agriculture and Autonomous Driving
The HyperImage project is the first initiative to develop a universal, fast, modular, and cost-effective spectral image sensing technology platform suitable for short- and long-range imaging applications.
To achieve that, HyperImage will use innovative photonic components, including electrically tunable liquid lenses, pixel shifters, fast steering mirrors, and configurable SMD-style IR micro-emitter arrays. HyperImage will integrate these components into innovative, high-performance multi- and hyperspectral snapshot and line scan cameras. AI machine learning algorithms will translate spectral image data into relevant functional product properties and detect and classify objects for more accurate decision-making, e.g., in autonomous driving. A cloud-based spectral image analysis platform and reference data repository will complement the technology platform to enable users to improve image analysis accuracy and prediction models continuously.
The HyperImage technology platform will be validated in four industrial use cases:
- Spectral image-based vision and navigation in off-road autonomous driving
- Crop growth monitoring for fully automated vertical farming of salads, herbs, and microgreens
- Quality control in the manufacturing of high-power electronics
- Light-weight, high-resolution hyperspectral vision system for unmanned geo-surveillance drones
Based on that, HyperImage will provide the European Industry with a universal, efficient, and reliable solution for object recognition, detailed product and material analysis, and reliable quality control in manufacturing. HyperImage solution will lead to solid benefits for the applications, such as a 10 to 20 percent increase in yield and reduced cost in manufacturing and vertical farming, 20 percent fuel saving and up to 40 percent increased operation speed in autonomous offroad driving, and up to 10 percent drone weight reduction (25 kg MTOW class) yielding 50 percent increased flight time through space for a larger battery.
