The Hawk-Eye Technology

Agrarius LLC developed, owns, and operates the Hawk-Eye™ Remote Sensing System pictured in Figure 1.  The Hawk-Eye™ System is a unique low level/aerial imaging system that supports the operations of the two operational divisions, View-It, Thermo-Vu^TM, and Hawk’s-Vu^TM; and the research and development activities which lead to new techniques and the integration of new sensors and processing algorithms for product development.  

The Hawk-Eye™ Remote Sensing System consists of: 

• High-fidelity IR and visual camera sub-systems for mounting in/on instrument platforms. 

o   Portable Camera Module consists of remotely controlled cameras:

§  The IR video camera is an uncalibrated bolometer, 8 to 14 micron, imaging at 28 frames/second, 240 X 180 pixels.  Temperature correlations are accomplished with a thermal IR gun.

§  The visual camera is a Cannon SX110 IS color 400 – 1000 nanometer, 10mega pixel imager. 

The Portable Camera Module is scheduled to undergo a major upgrade.  In December 2009, Agrarius will upgrade the IR camera to a FLIR A320, calibrated bolometer, 8 – 14 micron, 320 X 240 pixel video camera.

o   Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Cameras are a single block controlled in the UAV System Segment:

§  The IR video camera is an uncalibrated micro-bolometer, 8 to 14 micron, imaging at 28 frames/second, 240 X 180 pixels.

§  The visual video camera is a color CCD camera, 400 – 1000 nanometer, imaging at 30 frames/second, 320 X 240 pixels. 

• observing platform/instrument deck mounted on a small portable tripod.

• observing platform/instrument deck mounted on a telescoping mast integrated into the van used for transportation and as a mobile workspace..

• aerial observing platforms consisting of small best-of-breed work class UAV.  The Camera Block are mounted in the UAV fuselage and can be manually positioned to point at Nadir, 30°, 45°, or 60° oblique. 

• micro meteorological sensors for temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind data.  Sensor available for surface observations and at flight level.

• navigation & control, and a processing and data visualization subsystem for real time collection, processing, and geo-rectification of data and imagery

• data fusion and dissemination subsystem for immediate visualization and transmission of results via the internet from the field

and

• workstation computing capacity

The below picture is a view of the Hawk-Eye™ Van.  

It is our mobile laboratory that we use to provide local services and also for our R&D data collection. 

 Hawk-Eye™ System deployed in field with mast extended.

These pictures are a view of the Hawk-Eye™ System set-up for use by one of our clients from their truck.

Agrarius builds, installs, and provides the operations and maintenance training for our customers to operate their Hawk-Eye™ System.