Schwabe SWIR Camera

The SWIR camera, developed by specialists of NPO Orion, operates in the short-wave part of the infrared range. It is able to see in fog and smoke, detect masked objects, including those hidden behind the tinted windows of the vehicle. In tandem with the quadcopter, the development capabilities of the Schwabe enterprise are significantly increasing. It can be used in the system of control of urban transport, in the field of security and anti-terror.

2023: Ability to analyze rock and sort debris

The Moscow enterprise of the Shvabe holding of Rostec State Corporation, in cooperation with the Russian company AKSALIT Soft, supplies its own SWIR cameras. They are installed on optical separators for automatic sorting of solid municipal waste (MSW) and on scanning installations for analysis of rock. The Schwabe holding announced this on July 7, 2023.

Optical separator

In the first case, a camera integrated into the general system, created by specialists from the State Scientific Center of the RFNPO "Orion," helps to find out what material this or that object is made of. Then, using artificial intelligence, mechanical sorting of MSW is carried out. Thanks to the automation of the process, up to 99% increases the quality of sorting and increases its speed.

In the second case, the SWIR chamber is used in the analysis of the rock sample. The system scans samples in 5-7 minutes and creates a digital core twin. The software automatically determines the rock, structure, mineral composition and grain size of the material under study. This makes it possible to estimate the degree of fracturing and other characteristics of the entire core. This system repeatedly speeds up the analysis process - a person will perform such work in 2-3 hours.

The software (software) of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation NPO Orion is integrated into the system. It allows you to control the processes of the SWIR camera and obtain horizontal and vertical image profiles. Also, based on the finished set of commands, it is possible to create your own software for the further development of various methods for analyzing MSW or rock samples.

In such industries, our camera is used for the first time. We see an example of successful import substitution, and taking into account the technical characteristics of equipment superior to foreign competitors, and import procurement. The development of industrial equipment is a task set by the government, which is being carried out, - said Vadim Startsev, Director General of the State Research Center of the Russian Federation of NPO Orion.

Automatic separators and scanning units consist almost entirely of domestic components. This equipment was created as part of the implementation of the national project "Ecology" and the federal project "Geology. Revival of the legend. " The holding's enterprises actively support these initiatives and participate in state programs.

2019

A drone camera weighing about 100 grams

On September 23, 2019, Rostec told TAdviser that Schwabe Holding had created a short-wave infrared (SWIR) camera weighing about 100 grams. The device with a domestic lens can be installed on drones with a GoPro class suspension. The SWIR camera can be used during operation in low visibility conditions (smoke, dust, fog), for monitoring objects in low visibility conditions and for observing high-temperature processes.

The camera was created on the basis of the SWIR camera of NPO Orion (part of the Schwabe Holding). The product weighs about 100 grams, while the rest of the original characteristics remained unchanged. A significant decrease in weight parameters (2 times relative to the basic design) was achieved by using its own short-focus lens. All body parts are also as lightweight as possible.

Due to its low weight, the Russian SWIR camera can be mounted on GoPro class suspensions and used as part of amateur drones. In addition, unlike most other cameras in the same range, the development of NPO Orion does not require focusing, which is especially important when used as part of drones. All this expands the range of application of the product, making it in demand for geology, agriculture, control of infrastructure facilities, search for missing.

The camera allows you to shoot in the short wavelength infrared range (SWIR). Fog, smoke, tinted glasses are not a barrier for SWIR-range radiation.

The SWIR camera is one of the successful products of the defense industry diversification, an example of dual-use technologies that can be used for civilian tasks. The camera was created, first of all, for the Ministry of Emergency Situations, for use as part of unmanned aerial systems, search and rescue and reconnaissance operations. However, the special characteristics of the device allow it to be used in a wide variety of fields. This is medicine, and the system of control of urban transport, and the field of security, and agriculture, examination of works of art, checking banknotes, determining the quality of food, and many other areas where such "all-seeing" eyes are needed, 'Oleg Yevtushenko, Executive Director of Rostec State Corporation

The Russian short-wave infrared camera SWIR ‒ one of the flagship developments of the Moscow scientific and production association of the Schwabe Holding. The lightweight version for September 2019 is ready for mass production.

Start Mass Production of Advanced Model with Expanded Matrix Format

On March 30, 2019, Schwabe announced that serial production of an improved short-wave infrared SWIR camera with a resolution of 640x512 pixels began at the Orion NPO enterprise.

According to the company, the camera is capable of "seeing" hidden objects - in fog and smoke, detecting disguised objects and people in zero visibility, and also has a civilian version. The device was developed in Moscow and consists of 100% Russian components.

The SWIR camera ‒ for March 2019 one of the main developments of our enterprise, marked by representatives of the expert community at many specialized exhibitions. In the series, we launch an improved model. Its updated body is made of alloy, which is used in the aviation and space industries. The enclosure complies with protection class IP67, reliably protecting the matrix from damage, dust and water. The camera can be submerged to a depth of one meter without risk for its further performance. Evgeny Chepurnov, Director General of Orion NGO

The SWIR camera can be used as part of ORION-DRONE and the civilian tracked all-terrain vehicle SBKh-10, also developed by NPO Orion. Suitable for marine navigation, facility control and monitoring, safety and research activities.

2017: Shortwave IR spectrum camera announcement

In early July 2017, Rostec State Corporation introduced a short-wave IR spectrum (SWIR) camera manufactured by Schwabe Holding. Thanks to the use of the SWIR range, the camera can be used during operation in conditions of limited visibility (smoke, dust, fog), to monitor objects in the dark and to detect thermal flashes (shots, volleys).

According to representatives of Rostec, these properties make it possible to use the "all-seeing" camera in many civilian areas of activity. For example, to control the authenticity and identification of counterfeit money, determine the quality of food, to diagnose the operation of solar panels, monitor humidity and condition from\x-land, icing of power lines, control of oil and gas systems and emissions. The SWIR camera can also be used in medical devices, as well as for monitoring the navigation of sea and river vessels or observing the animal world.

Among the non-trivial tasks that the manufacturer assures the camera can solve: determine whether the hair color is real and whether the mustache, beard or sideburns are false in a made-up person; identify the contents of opaque bags and bags. These capabilities can be used as part of the work of special services and to determine the identities of intruders or terrorists.

"In the SWIR range, higher levels of natural contrasts are achieved, there is 5-7 times more natural night light than light from stars, better atmospheric transmission," explained Rostec. "In addition, camouflage coatings effective in the 0.4 to 0.9 μm spectrum region lose their masking properties in the 0.1 to 1.7 μm wave range