Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU, Booth 1478) of Boise, Idaho unveiled its new microgimbal camera at the NBAA show in Orlando. The Owls, for observation wide-area, low-altitude sensor, is designed for surveillance, reconnaissance and target detection from lightweight UAVs and it can also be fitted to manned aircraft.

“What makes the Owls different from other EOIR [electro-optical infrared] gimbal payloads is a true night-vision sensor that uses a low-light CMOS [complementary metal-oxide semiconductor] camera with extremely low electronic-noise performance that can image into starlight conditions,” explained Joe Estrera, ASU chief technology officer. “Other gimbals use thermal infrared cameras but will not achieve the needed resolution to recognize/identify feature-rich objects in a scene. The camera that ASU is using in Owls is closely approaching the night-vision performance of military image intensifiers.”

Owls weighs less than two pounds, measures four inches in diameter and uses less than five watts of power and also provides advanced night-vision imaging capabilities. ASU says the payload sensor assembly system will meet standard commercial aviation requirements, such as RTCA’s DO-160, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.

ASU is developing multiple Owls camera systems with differing operational capabilities. The next version will have microelectronics that will digitally fuse, pixel by pixel, night-vision with infrared imagery, thus making it possible see through smoke and other atmospheric obscurations.