Abstract: In a system for optimizing crop growth, vegetation is cultivated in a contained environment, such as a greenhouse, an underground cavern or other enclosed space. Imaging equipment is positioned within or about the contained environment, to acquire spatially distributed crop growth information, and environmental sensors are provided to acquire data regarding multiple environmental conditions that can affect crop development. Illumination within the contained environment, and the addition of essential nutrients and chemicals are in turn controlled in response to data acquired by the imaging apparatus and environmental sensors, by an “expert system” which is trained to analyze and evaluate crop conditions. The expert system controls the spatial and temporal lighting pattern within the contained area, and the timing and allocation of nutrients and chemicals to achieve optimized crop development.

Abstract: An electrically conductive composite consisting of Vinyl-ester (as an anti-corrosive matrix), woven carbon fibers (as the reinforcement and conductive material) and carbon black powder (as a conductive filler) is manufactured. Various weight percentages of the matrix, fibers and filler are examined. The product cured at room temperature. Low weight, high strength, high stiffness, chemically corrosive resistance, electrically conductive characteristics are obtained from the product. The product may serve as electrically conductive polymeric composites in chemically corrosive environment.

Abstract: A photocatalytic fog disseminating system is used to disperse and activate photocatalytic particles. The photocatalytic particles preferably are nanoscale particles of titanium oxide. An aqueous suspension of the photocatalytic particles is dispersed by the system as an aerosol, and a photon source is used to excite the dispersed particles in order to initiate photocatalytic redox reactions that degrade airborne or sedentary organic impurities that come into contact with the aerosol.

Abstract: An artificial lighting environment is provided. The environment includes an enclosure having an internal growth chamber for containing plants. The enclosure includes an outer surface exposed to an external environment and an inner surface that is exposed to the internal growth chamber and that provides diffuse reflection. A light source illuminates the internal growth chamber, and the inner surface affects light from the light source incident on the inner surface so as to provide substantially uniform and diffuse illumination to plants in the internal growth chamber. This environment provides minimal contamination to the plants contained in the enclosure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integration of fluorescence and reflective imaging are provided. The system and method can measure reflectance and fluorescence spectrally and spatially with co-registered hyperspectral signatures, and can output a co-registered image from first and second co-registered hyperspectral image data sets.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for identifying and distinguishing fungal species, a hyperspectral imaging scanner is used to acquire hyperspectral image data for radiation obtained from a sample area in which at least one unknown fungal species is present. A computer compares the acquired hyperspectral image data with spectral signature data stored in a digital library, which includes spectral signature data for each one of a group of known fungal species, and identifies the fungal species, based on the result of such comparison. The spectral signature data stored in the digital library take into account, for each fungal species, spectral variations that can occur due to at least one of environmental and temporal influences. The computer comparison includes a pixel-by-pixel analysis of the degree of difference between acquired hyperspectral image data and the spectral signature data, so that a spatial distribution of identified fungal species can be determined for a sample area.

Abstract: A spectroscopy system for high-accuracy, highly automated spectral imaging of a target is provided. Video and spectrometry information are obtained via an integrated video, spectrometry and distance sensing platform and processed by a computer. The processed video and spectrometry information are presented in real-time on an integrated display, with a graphical representation of the actual ground instantaneous field of view of the spectrometer sensor overlaid directly onto the video image of the target to provide real-time target aiming information, thus enabling the operator to rapidly optimize spectral data acquisition.

Abstract: A spectroscopy system for high-accuracy, highly automated spectral imaging of a target is provided. Video and spectrometry information are obtained via an integrated video, spectrometry and distance sensing platform and processed by a computer. The processed video and spectrometry information are presented in real-time on an integrated display, with a graphical representation of the actual ground instantaneous field of view of the spectrometer sensor overlaid directly onto the video image of the target to provide real-time target aiming information, thus enabling the operator to rapidly optimize spectral data acquisition.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging workstation includes both UV and VNIR sensors together in a single enclosure. Each sensor captures an image of a target or specimen, resulting in respective UV and VNIR data sets which are then merged into a single hyperspectral data set that includes a highly correlated contiguous spectral bands throughout a range of from 200 to 1000 nanometers.

Abstract: A light trap suitable for use in an optical imaging system includes a hollow sphere, with a hollow cylindrical tube attached substantially tangent to the surface of the sphere, and forming a chimney. The interior and exterior surfaces of the sphere are coated with a low-reflective coating, such as flat black paint. A sample to be imaged is placed over the opening of the chimney with an imaging system and illumination source directed downward into the chimney itself. Light which passes through or around the sample is captured in the sphere, so that it is not reflected back into the imaging system.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging workstation includes both UV and VNIR sensors together in a single enclosure. Each sensor captures an image of a target or specimen, resulting in respective UV and VNIR data sets which are then merged into a single hyperspectral data set that includes a highly correlated contiguous spectral bands throughout a range of from 200 to 1000 nanometers.

Abstract: Remotely sensed spectral image data are used to develop a Vegetation Index file which represents spatial variations of actual crop vigor throughout a field that is under cultivation. The latter information is processed to place it in a format that can be used by farm personnel to correlate and calibrate it with actually observed crop conditions existing at control points within the field. Based on the results, farm personnel formulate a prescription request, which is forwarded via email or FTP to a central processing site, where the prescription is prepared. The latter is returned via email or FTP to on-side farm personnel, who can load it into a controller on a spray rig that directly applies inputs to the field at a spatially variable rate.

Abstract: Remotely sensed spectral image data are used to develop a Vegetation Index file which represents spatial variations of actual crop vigor throughout a field that is under cultivation. The latter information is processed to place it in a format that can be used by farm personnel to correlate and calibrate it with actually observed crop conditions existing at control points within the field. Based on the results, farm personnel formulate a prescription request, which is forwarded via email or FTP to a central processing site, where the prescription is prepared. The latter is returned via email or FTP to on-side farm personnel, who can load it into a controller on a spray rig that directly applies inputs to the field at a spatially variable rate.

Abstract: A light trap suitable for use in an optical imaging system includes a hollow sphere, with a hollow cylindrical tube attached substantially tangent to the surface of the sphere, and forming a chimney. The interior and exterior surfaces of the sphere are coated with a low-reflective coating, such as flat black paint. A sample to be imaged is placed over the opening of the chimney with an imaging system and illumination source directed downward into the chimney itself. Light which passes through or around the sample is captured in the sphere, so that it is not reflected back into the imaging system.

Abstract: An automated inspection system for detecting digestive contaminants on food items as they are being processed for consumption includes a conveyor for transporting the food items, a light sealed enclosure which surrounds a portion of the conveyor, with a light source and a multispectral or hyperspectral digital imaging camera disposed within the enclosure. Operation of the conveyor, light source and camera are controlled by a central computer unit. Light reflected by the food items within the enclosure is detected in predetermined wavelength bands, and detected intensity values are analyzed to detect the presence of digestive contamination.

Abstract: Imaging systems, containing at least one charge-coupled device detector, are used for determining contamination of foodstuffs, such as for example, animal carcasses. Image processing algorithms allow for the identification of contaminants.

Abstract: A microscopic hyperspectral imaging scanner has a microscopic front objective lens, a spatial window for selectively passing a portion of the image therethrough, and a CCD array for receiving the passed portion of the image. The spatial window and CCD array are mounted for tandem reciprocating movement relative to the front object lens. In one embodiment, the spatial window is a slit and the CCD array is one-dimensional, and successive rows of the image in the focal plane of the front objective lens are passed to the CCD array by an image relay lens interposed between the slit and the CCD array. In another embodiment, the spatial window is a slit, the CCD array is two-dimensional, and a prism-grating-prism optical spectrometer is interposed between the slit and the CCD array so as to cause the scanned row to be split into a plurality of spectral separations onto the CCD array.

Abstract: A focal plane scanner having a front objective lens, a spatial window for selectively passing a portion of the image therethrough, and a CCD array for receiving the passed portion of the image. All embodiments have a common feature whereby the spatial window and CCD array are mounted for simultaneous relative reciprocating movement with respect to the front objective lens, and the spatial window is mounted within the focal plane of the front objective. In a first embodiment, the spatial window is a slit and the CCD array is one-dimensional, and successive rows of the image in the focal plane of the front objective lens are passed to the CCD array by an image relay lens interposed between the slit and the CCD array. In a second embodiment, the spatial window is a slit, the CCD array is two-dimensional, and a prism-grating-prism optical spectrometer is interposed between the slit and the CCD array so as to cause the scanned row to be split into a plurality of spectral separations onto the CCD array.

Abstract: A method for detecting the seismic discontinuity in acoustic impedance caused by an acoustically hard, reflective object buried a few feet below poroelastic soil using seismic activity induced through acoustic coupling with a remote sound source. The abrupt change in the soil impedance caused by the buried object causes sound to reflect between the object and the surface and increase the amplitude of the seismic vibrations induced by the incident acoustic energy. The change in the seismic displacement of the soil is on the order of angstroms which can be detected using remote optical test equipment such as a laser-doppler vibrometer (LDV) commonly used in nondestructive testing. A sound source emits sound at frequencies that induce significant seismic coupling with the poroelastic soil. Part of a beam of laser light of an LDV is scanned over the ground. The laser light is shifted in frequency from its source frequency by an amount intended to approximate the frequency of the anticipated seismic vibrations.