CHN SPEC FS-50/180 Drone-borne Multispectral Camera (400~1000nm, 180 Spectral Channels)

CHN SPEC FS-50/180 Drone-borne Multispectral Camera (400~1000nm, 180 Spectral Channels)

CHN SPEC FS-50/180 drone-borne multispectral and hyperspectral imaging camera is the most advanced, next-generation spectral scanning device in the FS-50 series by CHNSpec (China). Featuring a wide wavelength range of 400 ~ 1000 nm and up to 180 spectral channels, this device transforms conventional image data into highly detailed “spectral fingerprints” for high-altitude research, surveying, and advanced analysis applications.

Key Technological Features

Unparalleled Number of Spectral Channels (180 Channels): While standard multispectral cameras only feature 5 to 6 fixed bands (Red, Green, Blue, Red Edge, NIR), the FS-50/180 divides the wavelength range into 180 continuous narrow bands. This shifts the device from the boundary of “multispectral” closer to “hyperspectral” capabilities, enabling it to distinguish minuscule variations in material composition that are invisible to the naked eye or conventional cameras.

High-Performance Push-broom (Line-scanning) Solution: Utilizing transmission grating technology, it achieves a light transmission efficiency of over 60% and reduces stray light to below 0.5%, ensuring the purity and integrity of the collected data.

Real-time Ground Station Synchronization: Operators can preview image data and inspect spectral graphs in real time during drone flight operations. The system supports direct calculation of popular vegetation indices (such as NDVI, NDRE, etc.) to provide early warnings.

Powerful and Precise Post-processing: The bundled software supports radiometric correction, reflectivity calibration against a standard reference panel, and batch processing to significantly accelerate digital orthophoto mapping workflows.

Technical Specifications:

Spectral channels: 180

Spectral band wavelength: 400–1000 nm, approx. 3.3 nm single wavelength output step

Spectral resolution / Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM): 2.5 nm

Spatial resolution: 1920

Sampling rate: 128 lines/sec

Image sensor: 1/1.1-inch CMOS

Effective pixels: 1920

Shutter type: Global shutter

Quantization: 12 bit

Field of view (FOV): 25.36°

Ground sample distance (GSD): 2.8 cm @ 120 m flight altitude

Swath width: 54 m @ 120 m flight altitude

Optical window: High-transmission optical glass

Main device dimensions: ≤ 155 × 95 × 119 mm

Main device weight: ≤ 840 g

Installation / Power supply interface: X-Port

Power consumption: 45 W

Image format: 12-bit .SPE (compatible with third-party analysis software like ENVI)

Data storage capacity: 512G SSD

Application software: FIGSPEC UAV real-time flight control software, FIGSPEC Merge image stitching software, FIGSPEC Studio image analysis software

Capture method: Real-time recording

Practical Applications of the System

Thanks to its wide-area scanning capability and ultra-high 180-channel spectral resolution, the CHN SPEC FS-50/180 serves as a powerful instrument for the following fields:

• Precision Agriculture: Accurately quantifies crop health and detects early-stage pest infestations, water stress, or nutrient deficiencies before visual symptoms manifest on leaf surfaces. Forecasts crop yields based on digital canopy models.
• Forestry Management & Ecology: Precisely classifies plant species in dense forests based on the unique “spectral fingerprint” of each leaf type, statistics canopy coverage density, and monitors forest fire or degradation risks.
• Water Environment Monitoring & Protection: Evaluates pollution levels and eutrophication phenomena in rivers and lakes. Inverts computational models to analyze the concentration of organic matter, toxic algae, and illegally discharged domestic/industrial wastewater.
• Defense, Security & Target Identification: Identifies structures, military hardware, or camouflage netting by detecting discrepancies in the spectral reflectance of man-made materials compared to natural vegetation.
• Geological Surveying & Mineral Exploration: Analyzes the distribution of surface soils, rocks, and outcropping minerals across the terrain.