Real-time multi-spectral system and method

A multi-spectral potential target identification method, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a processing circuitry, one or more target spectral signatures;
• activating, by the processing circuitry, a multi-spectral sensor, capable of acquiring images in a plurality of imaging channels, each having a different wavelength range, wherein the multi-spectral sensor is initiated to operate in a wide Short Wave Infra-Red (SWIR) simple mode;
• determining, by the processing circuitry, based on viewing a first Field Of View (FOV) by the multi-spectral sensor in the wide SWIR simple mode, calculated exposure times for each imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels of the multi-spectral sensor, wherein the calculated exposure times for each imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels are determined in accordance with a predefined empiric channel average radiance level by utilizing a common Albedo for each imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels and a typical expected sun radiance, and wherein a radiometric calibration performed for each given imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels is adapted to a corresponding exposure time by dividing a radiometric value by an adaptive integration time of the given imaging channel;
• determining, by the processing circuitry, based on an input from a user, an atmospheric calibration matrix for the multi-spectral sensor;
• generating, by the processing circuitry, a multi-spectral data cube of a second FOV viewed by the multi-spectral sensor, utilizing the multi-spectral sensor, the calculated exposure times and the atmospheric calibration matrix, wherein the generation of the multi-spectral data cube includes radiometric calibration and multi-channel registration;
• identifying, by the processing circuitry, utilizing the multi-spectral data cube, one or more potential targets, wherein each target is group of pixels identified within the multi-spectral data cube with a spectral signature that corresponds to at least one of the obtained target spectral signatures and wherein each target has a geolocation;
• and
• investigating, by the processing circuitry, one or more of the identified potential targets utilizing one or more additional sensors.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code, executable by at least one processing circuitry of a computer to perform a method comprising:

• obtaining, by a processing circuitry, one or more target spectral signatures;
• activating, by the processing circuitry, a multi-spectral sensor, capable of acquiring images in a plurality of imaging channels, each having a different wavelength range, wherein the multi-spectral sensor is initiated to operate in a wide Short Wave Infra-Red (SWIR) simple mode;
• determining, by the processing circuitry, based on viewing a first Field Of View (FOV) by the multi-spectral sensor in the wide SWIR simple mode, calculated exposure times for each imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels of the multi-spectral sensor, wherein the calculated exposure times for each imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels are determined in accordance with a predefined empiric channel average radiance level by utilizing a common Albedo for each imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels and a typical expected sun radiance, and wherein a radiometric calibration performed for each given imaging channel of the plurality of imaging channels is adapted to a corresponding exposure time by dividing a radiometric value by an adaptive integration time of the given imaging channel;
• determining, by the processing circuitry, based on an input from a user, an atmospheric calibration matrix for the multi-spectral sensor;
• generating, by the processing circuitry, a multi-spectral data cube of a second FOV viewed by the multi-spectral sensor, utilizing the multi-spectral sensor, the calculated exposure times and the atmospheric calibration matrix, wherein the generation of the multi-spectral data cube includes radiometric calibration and multi-channel registration;
• identifying, by the processing circuitry, utilizing the multi-spectral data cube, one or more potential targets, wherein each target is group of pixels identified within the multi-spectral data cube with a spectral signature that corresponds to at least one of the obtained target spectral signatures and wherein each target has a geolocation;
• and
• investigating, by the processing circuitry, one or more of the identified potential targets utilizing one or more additional sensors.