Sierra-Olympic Technologies Inc. has released its new Vayu HD camera.

Compact enough to fit into the palm of someone’s hand and weighing just over one pound, the camera is the world’s first Full HD 1920 x 1200 x 12μm uncooled VOX Microbolometer Array, according to Sierra-Olympics. The company adds that it is the highest resolution uncooled Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) camera on the market, as it exceeds the current 640 x 480 resolution benchmark with 7.5 times the pixel count.

Sierra-Olympic describes the camera as a “major evolution in low SWaP-optimized thermal imagery,” thanks to its combination of reduced size and weight, superior image quality and the reliability of an uncooled LWIR platform.

“Sierra-Olympic has more than three years of experience with this unique, large format FPA and is excited about its re-introduction now that the FPA supply is ready for production,” says Chris Johnston, Sierra-Olympic president.

“We have designed our new camera for minimum size and weight and have provided a more flexible camera core for our integration customers. Of true significance now is our ability to declare the product as dual-use, thus allowing more seamless sales to our international customers.”

Sierra-Olympic custom designed 25 millimeter and 50-millimeter lens configurations of the Vayu HD. Built around a lightweight chassis, the camera features convenient interfaces that are primarily designed for integrators and end-users across various industries including the UAS, unmanned systems and ground and surface vehicles industries.

Equipped with USB 3.0 raw video output, standard HDMI (1080p) and IP-video outputs (H.264/265), the camera is designed for universal compatibility. An onboard processor provides advanced imaging functions, as well as the ability to implement optional features such as object tracking and detection with telemetry, NMEA metadata frame tagging and more.

“This sort of technology is demanded especially by users who simultaneously need wide field of view and high spatial pixel density,” says Tim Decker, Sierra-Olympic Product Engineering manager.

“Being uncooled, it does not require the maintenance and overhaul needed on cooled/MWIR cameras. This is a significant reduction to long term cost of ownership and a significant strength in reliability.”