Abstract

A dual polarized 3-mm radiometer system, with a mechanically scanned antenna, has been built for use on a small aircraft or RPV to produce near real-time moderate resolution (0.5°) images of the ground. One of the main advantages of this passive imaging sensor is that it is able to provide surveillance information through clouds, smoke, and dust when visual and IR systems are unusable. This millimeter-wave imaging sensor can also be used for a variety of remote sensing applications such as measurements of snow cover, surface moisture, vegetation type and extent, mineral type and extent, and surface temperature and thermal inertia. The fact that the millimeter-wave sensor observes different physical phenomena makes it a valuable addition to visual and IR imaging systems.

© 1986 Optical Society of America