Teledyne FLIR, a division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, has unveiled its latest advancement in the field of high-performance dual radiometric thermal and visible camera modules, expanding the Hadron 640 series. The new ITAR-free Hadron 640+ and radiometric Hadron 640R+ models boast industry-leading thermal sensitivity and are designed to be seamlessly integrated into unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), robotic platforms, and AI applications leveraging Teledyne FLIR’s Prism™ software.

Michael Walters, Vice President of Product Management at Teledyne FLIR, highlighted the significance of the Hadron 640 series for integrators, emphasizing the modules’ AI-readiness, performance, and efficiency in small unmanned systems where size, weight, power, run time, and battery life are crucial factors. The integration of Teledyne FLIR’s new Prism AI detection, tracking, and classification models, along with Prism ISP libraries offering advanced features like super-resolution, turbulence mitigation, and contrast enhancement, further enhances the capabilities of the Hadron 640 series for AI-based applications.

The new Hadron 640 modules feature a 640 x 512 resolution Boson+ longwave infrared (LWIR) camera module with exceptional thermal sensitivity of 20 millikelvin (mK) or better. This technology allows for visibility in total darkness, smoke, fog, and glare, ensuring operational awareness both day and night. Additionally, the Hadron 640R+ model provides temperature measurements for every pixel in the scene, while the inclusion of a 64MP visible camera enables the series to deliver thermal and visible imagery in a single compact module.

Collaboration between Teledyne FLIR and industry partners such as Red Cat has facilitated rapid innovation in drone payloads, accelerating time-to-market and providing cutting-edge technology to support military operations. George Matus, Chief Technology Officer of Red Cat, commended the enhanced thermal sensitivity and HD visible cameras of the Hadron 640 series, emphasizing the superior performance and compact design that benefit NATO allies and the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance Tranche 2 program.

For integrators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking to streamline development processes and reduce costs, the Hadron 640 series offers a user-friendly interface and robust support, enabling efficient integration into a variety of unmanned systems and AI applications.