The US defense technology company - Leonardo DRS has introduced the Tenum 640 Orbit thermal camera module, bringing optical visibility to autonomous air, land and sea systems.
The device is seen as a new generation "heat eye" for small unmanned platforms, helping them detect targets, navigate and avoid collisions in low light conditions or complex weather environments.
Tenum 640 Orbit uses a VOx Microbolometer probe with 640×512 thermal resolution and 60 fps processing speed.
This technology allows the camera to record detailed thermal images at high speed, supporting real-time monitoring and supervision activities.
Unlike many traditional thermal imaging systems that require bulky coolers, Leonardo DRS's new module operates without a separate cooling system.
This helps reduce the size, weight and power consumption, while facilitating integration into compact driverless vehicles.
According to Leonardo DRS, Tenum 640 Orbit can be integrated into many different platforms such as drones, ground-based autonomous vehicles and unmanned trains.
The device also supports popular camera communication standards, allowing easy image data connection and control with existing systems.
Mr. Greg Christison - Vice President in charge of sensors and aviation at Leonardo DRS, said that the demand for deploying unmanned systems is increasing rapidly on a large scale.
According to Mr. Christison, operating units need thermal cameras that both meet task requirements and are easy to integrate into many different platforms.
Leonardo DRS representative emphasized that Tenum 640 Orbit is optimized in size, weight, power and cost.
This helps speed up the integration process, while expanding deployment capabilities on small unmanned systems while maintaining operating performance.
Another notable point is that the system is designed without mechanical movement. Thanks to that, the camera can maintain continuous and stable video output during long operating times, while supporting real-time image balance.
The device also integrates dual image output mode, increasing flexibility when operating.
Fast startup time, only about 4 seconds to display the first image, helping units deploy quickly in field missions.
Tenum 640 Orbit is designed to operate in temperature ranges from minus 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, suitable for many harsh environments.
The lens is completely sealed to prevent dust and water, meeting environmental safety standards for field operations.
In the context of self-driving vehicles increasingly being widely used in military, rescue and surveillance, compact heat sensor systems such as Tenum 640 Orbit are expected to significantly improve nighttime operation and safety for new generation unmanned platforms.
