Military researchers eye uncooled infrared imaging technology for uses like night vision, remote sensing
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are surveying industry for enabling technologies and new applications of high-performance uncooled infrared (IR) imaging systems.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., issued a request for information (DARPA-SS-25-01) on Tuesday for the Applications and Technology Transition of High-Performance Uncooled Infrared Detectors project.
OpTIm-based IR detectors
From industry, DARPA is seeking information on how to move optomechanical thermal imaging (OpTIm)-based IR detectors into military, aerospace, and commercial applications.
Many military and commercial applications rely on IR imaging technology. These include night vision, biochemical detection, and remote sensing, DARPA researchers say.
Yet existing IR imaging technologies like IR bolometers and IR photodetectors impose limitations. Thermal bolometers are inexpensive and operate at room temperature, but have poor sensitivity and lack resilience to sudden light changes. IR photodetectors, on the other hand, offer high sensitivity and speed, but require cryogenic cooling for peak performance. These limitations require substantial compromises between performance and size, weight, and power (SWaP).
Recent developments in quantum sensing, optomechanics, and nanophotonics, however, point to new ways of achieving high-performance and low-SWaP IR detection.
DARPA researchers are asking industry to identify low-SWaP IR imaging applications like high-speed multispectral IR imaging; remote sensing of trace chemicals; high-speed thermal processing; fault diagnoses, and inspection of materials; and biomedical diagnoses.
Researchers also are asking industry to analyze how OpTIm-related innovations may influence today's state of the art in IR detectors, and push these IR sensors beyond today's solutions.
This request for information and an upcoming industry workshop seek to start a broad discussion of disruptive application opportunities for OpTIm-related IR imaging systems, identification of technology demonstrators, pathways to commercialization, and potential near-term challenges to moving OpTIm-related innovations into military, aerospace, and commercial products.
DARPA will host an in-person-only workshop on OpTIm-related IR imaging technologies on 25 and 26 June 2025. Companies interested in attending the workshop should email responses no later than 2 June 2025 to Program Manager Mukund Vengalattore at [email protected]. Workshop space is limited and only RFI respondents will be eligible to attend. Responses may be unclassified or classified at up to the SECRET level.
Workshop group discussion
Some participants may be asked to make formal 20-minute presentations The workshop will be group discussion and presentations, with unclassified and classified portions of the workshop on different days.
Invitations to the workshop will be emailed by 9 June 2025 with details like passing of clearances for classified sessions. All attendees should participate in general discussions and to make recommendations for future research.
Email questions or concerns to [email protected]. More information is online at https://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2025/05-May/01-May-2025/FBO-07425357.htm.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
