Apr 1 2009
Magnolia Optical Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has developed a high performance multi-sensor imaging system that uses high speed fiber-optic tether to provide real time imaging in a variety of defense applications.
This demonstration was part of a U.S. Army Small Business Innovative Research program to develop high speed fiber-optic links that can operate with speeds great than 10 Gigabits per second. As part of this program, Magnolia collaborated with Mr. Robert Bell, Executive Director of the FCS Programs at iRobot, in Bedford, Massachusetts. Dr. Ashok K. Sood, President of Magnolia stated that “We are pleased to have worked with Mr. Bell and are grateful of his support for developing this demonstration.”
High speed, real time imagers are of great interest for defense and commercial robotic applications where multisensor real time data is needed. Magnolia’s system demonstrates that images from multiple sensors can be sent over the fiber-optic cable to more than 500 meters, with the operator far away from harm’s way. The system has more than 100 percent reserve for data transmission to accommodate additional sensors on the system without sacrificing real time images and data. The system demonstration uses high resolution visible cameras. Magnolia plans to add Infrared cameras for thermal images and millimeter wave cameras for Terahertz imaging to detect concealed weapons. The demonstration of this innovative technology for defense and commercial applications marks an important milestone for Magnolia.