A plug-n-play framework and acquisition methodology for remote exploration systems with single pixel cameras

Abstract

Imaging in deep infrared and terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum is difficult due to the unavailability of large sensor arrays. This can be mitigated by using single pixel detectors or radiometers along with a spatial light modulator. A framework for design and analysis of such imaging radiometer systems is presented. Remote exploration systems in space, deep ocean or disaster situations have limited power and computational resources. This puts a cap on the measurement budget of such systems. Apart from being power limited the exploration system must act on its own without external help. A three step sampling procedure involving image segmentation and compressive sampling is proposed which assigns the measurement budget based on coarse reconstructions of the scene. The sampling procedure is simulated using the framework and the effect of various system parameters on the final data output is analyzed. Simulations are performed to illustrate the capability of the framework to design such imaging systems and to study the trade offs between the optical, electrical and software domain.