Performance comparison of LWIR and MWIR systems for UAV-mounted targeting

The evaluation of infrared imaging systems for long-range targeting on small commercially available unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) requires careful consideration of trade-offs in sensitivity, resolution, and “size, weight, power, and cost” (SWaP-C) constraints. Uncooled LWIR microbolometers are lightweight and affordable but suffer from reduced sensitivity and longer integration times. Cooled LWIR sensors provide superior sensitivity and flexible integration times but often exceed SWaP-C limits due to cooling requirements. Currently, cooled MWIR sensors require less cooling than cooled LWIR sensors. Cooled MWIR sensors strike a balance between sensitivity, integration time, and SWaP, making them better for small drones. This study compares these possible UAV-feasible sensors, incorporating both theoretical performance models from NV-IPM and experimental validation through field testing. An additional trade study explores the SWaP-C efficiency of each sensor type, as well as the impacts of target temperature variation and pixel pitch on each sensor type. These findings provide a framework for optimizing UAV-mounted infrared targeting sensor selection for mission-specific requirements.