Surface Optics Corporation is pleased to announce the award of two Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. These awards support the development of innovative optical imaging solutions designed to operate in some of the most challenging defense environments. Both projects build on Surface Optics’ extensive expertise in spectral imaging, ruggedized camera design, and high-performance sensing technologies for aerospace and defense applications.
Dual-Band, Color Visible and SWIR Camera
Under Navy Topic N251-029, Surface Optics will design a compact, dual-band imaging system capable of simultaneously capturing full-color visible (0.4–0.7 µm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 0.9–1.7 µm) video.
The system is intended to enhance situational awareness for submarine and maritime operations by fusing color and SWIR imagery in real time. This enables improved performance in low-light, hazy, or obscured environments.The goal is to reduce size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) by consolidating multiple imaging sensors into a single, integrated solution suitable for periscopes, off-board cameras, and other naval platforms.
Miniature Visible-Band Video Camera for High-Temperature Environments
The second award, under Air Force Topic AF251-0009, supports the design of a miniature, visible-band video camera capable of operating in extreme high-temperature conditions. The intended applications include afterburner probes, hypersonic propulsion systems, and combustion-driven test facilities.
The Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) develops and implements multi-purpose probes that are inserted into the hot, high-speed exhaust streams of gas turbine engines and hypersonic systems in order to measure pressure, temperature, velocity, species concentrations, and other performance characteristics.
Camera technologies are unavailable that meet the requirements for size, form factor, optical quality, and frame rates for embedding into probes used in the evaluation of combustion system performance.
This effort focuses on material selection, thermal protection strategies, and compact optical design to enable real-time video imaging in environments that currently exceed the operational limits of conventional cameras.
Interested in Custom Hyperspectral or Spectroscopy Solutions?
Whether you’re working on aerospace systems, industrial inspection, or scientific research, our engineering team can help develop a solution tailored to your specific needs.
Surface Optics Corporation is pleased to announce the award of two Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts from the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. These awards support the development of innovative optical imaging solutions designed to operate in some of the most challenging defense environments. Both projects build on Surface Optics’ extensive expertise in spectral imaging, ruggedized camera design, and high-performance sensing technologies for aerospace and defense applications.
Dual-Band, Color Visible and SWIR Camera
Under Navy Topic N251-029, Surface Optics will design a compact, dual-band imaging system capable of simultaneously capturing full-color visible (0.4–0.7 µm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 0.9–1.7 µm) video.
The system is intended to enhance situational awareness for submarine and maritime operations by fusing color and SWIR imagery in real time. This enables improved performance in low-light, hazy, or obscured environments.The goal is to reduce size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) by consolidating multiple imaging sensors into a single, integrated solution suitable for periscopes, off-board cameras, and other naval platforms.
Miniature Visible-Band Video Camera for High-Temperature Environments
The second award, under Air Force Topic AF251-0009, supports the design of a miniature, visible-band video camera capable of operating in extreme high-temperature conditions. The intended applications include afterburner probes, hypersonic propulsion systems, and combustion-driven test facilities.
The Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) develops and implements multi-purpose probes that are inserted into the hot, high-speed exhaust streams of gas turbine engines and hypersonic systems in order to measure pressure, temperature, velocity, species concentrations, and other performance characteristics.
Camera technologies are unavailable that meet the requirements for size, form factor, optical quality, and frame rates for embedding into probes used in combustion system performance evaluation. This effort focuses on material selection, thermal protection strategies, and compact optical design to enable real-time video imaging in environments that currently exceed the operational limits of conventional cameras.
Interested in Custom Hyperspectral or Spectroscopy Solutions?
Whether you’re working on aerospace systems, industrial inspection, or scientific research, our engineering team can help develop a solution tailored to your specific needs.