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). Uncooled LWIR microbolometers are lightweight and affordable but suffer from reduced sensitivity and longer exposure times. Expensive cooled LWIR sensors provide superior sensitivity and flexible exposure times but exceed SWaP-C limits due to cooling requirements. Presently, cooled MWIR sensors require less cooling than cooled LWIR sensors and so strike a better balance between sensitivity, exposure, and SWaP-C. Current literature does not provide a quantitative framework for evaluating the feasibility of these sensors for small UAVs. This study systematically and quantitatively compares each sensor for UAV feasibility through a combination of theoretical performance modeling and field testing. Targeting performance is modeled in NV-IPM and verified in the field; an additional trade study explores SWaP-C efficiency and the performance impacts of target contrast. These findings offer a data-driven approach in selecting UAV-mounted sensors to meet mission-specific requirements.