LEOS multi-sensor camera system with mountain background

Multi-Spectral EO/IR Surveillance Imaging

There are many types of imaging technologies available, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Instead of choosing one set of pros and cons over another, Infiniti designs multi-sensor systems that allow you to easily take advantage of multiple imaging technologies simultaneously. 

See Beyond Human Vision

The light that humans see is only a small portion of what is called the electromagnetic spectrum. This spectrum is comprised of various frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, waves of energy that travel through space. The electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, WiFi, microwaves, radiant heat, visible light, ultraviolet, and even harmful x‑rays and gamma rays.

A diagram of the infrared spectrum highlighting the visible and infrared portions.

Many subsets of this electromagnetic radiation can be focused and detected by various imagers. Visible light is an obvious option as this is what most digital cameras detect, but there are also technologies that focus and detect infrared energy, allowing us to see details and information beyond what the human eye is able to see and detect, which can be hugely beneficial for surveillance systems. These images range from being similar to what we see but just outside our visible range to energy that is very different from what we see and shows us how hot the objects in a scene are. Each technology has its pros and cons.

The following video shows a scene in three different wavelength spectrums. The visible spectrum (which shows the heat as mostly invisible other than heat waves), the MWIR spectrum (most commonly used for cooled thermal cameras), and the SWIR spectrum:

Compare the Technologies

Where some technologies excel, others are not ideal. The following table compares the various imaging technologies in different applications and considerations.

  Visible NIR/ZLID SWIR Uncooled
Thermal
Cooled
Thermal
Cost Low Medium High Medium High
ITAR Requirement No No Yes No Most Cases
Resolution ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★★★
Long-Range Detection ★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★
Long-Range Identification ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★
Night Performance ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Night Stealth ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Power Efficiency ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★
Smoke Performance ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Light Fog Performance ★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★
Heavy Fog Performance ★★ ★★ ★★

For more information on the advantages and disadvantages of each technology, please see our dedicated pages on Visible/HD, NIR, ZLID, SWIR and Thermal which each explain the pros and cons concisely and comprehensively.

Get the Best of Everything

Combining more than one of these technologies into a single unit provides the best of each world. In the case of Visible HD and ZLID, the HD sensor and lens can be paired with the ZLID unit and utilized for HD imaging. With other technologies such as thermal imaging, a completely separate lens and sensor is required. We build our custom pan/tilt enclosures so that the pan and tilt positions of all of the sensors are controlled simultaneously, making it much easier to track your target.

Having all of these sensors available in one unit offers faster setup and less confusion while trying to track a target.

Multi-sensor camera with parts labelled

We Custom Build

Every situation is unique and has different needs. We balance your budget with the performance you require and suggest the ideal components that ensure that you’re getting the best value solution for your application.