Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This study proposes and implements a dual-processor FPGA-ARM architecture to resolve the critical contradiction between massive data volumes and real-time processing demands in UAV-borne hyperspectral imaging. The integrated system incorporates a shortwave infrared hyperspectral camera, IMU, control...

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Main Authors: Ruifan Yang, Min Huang, Wenhao Zhao, Zixuan Zhang, Yan Sun, Lulu Qian, Zhanchao Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4822
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author Ruifan Yang
Min Huang
Wenhao Zhao
Zixuan Zhang
Yan Sun
Lulu Qian
Zhanchao Wang
author_facet Ruifan Yang
Min Huang
Wenhao Zhao
Zixuan Zhang
Yan Sun
Lulu Qian
Zhanchao Wang
author_sort Ruifan Yang
collection DOAJ
description This study proposes and implements a dual-processor FPGA-ARM architecture to resolve the critical contradiction between massive data volumes and real-time processing demands in UAV-borne hyperspectral imaging. The integrated system incorporates a shortwave infrared hyperspectral camera, IMU, control module, heterogeneous computing core, and SATA SSD storage. Through hardware-level task partitioning—utilizing FPGA for high-speed data buffering and ARM for core computational processing—it achieves a real-time end-to-end acquisition–storage–processing–display pipeline. The compact integrated device exhibits a total weight of merely 6 kg and power consumption of 40 W, suitable for airborne platforms. Experimental validation confirms the system’s capability to store over 200 frames per second (at 640 × 270 resolution, matching the camera’s maximum frame rate), quick-look imaging capability, and demonstrated real-time processing efficacy via relative radio-metric correction tasks (processing 5000 image frames within 1000 ms). This framework provides an effective technical solution to address hyperspectral data processing bottlenecks more efficiently on UAV platforms for dynamic scenario applications. Future work includes actual flight deployment to verify performance in operational environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-4eac3cf484ec43de87ccfbc6fe28faa4
institution Kabale University
issn 1424-8220
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Sensors
spelling doaj-art-4eac3cf484ec43de87ccfbc6fe28faa42025-08-20T03:36:30ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-08-012515482210.3390/s25154822Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial VehiclesRuifan Yang0Min Huang1Wenhao Zhao2Zixuan Zhang3Yan Sun4Lulu Qian5Zhanchao Wang6Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, ChinaThis study proposes and implements a dual-processor FPGA-ARM architecture to resolve the critical contradiction between massive data volumes and real-time processing demands in UAV-borne hyperspectral imaging. The integrated system incorporates a shortwave infrared hyperspectral camera, IMU, control module, heterogeneous computing core, and SATA SSD storage. Through hardware-level task partitioning—utilizing FPGA for high-speed data buffering and ARM for core computational processing—it achieves a real-time end-to-end acquisition–storage–processing–display pipeline. The compact integrated device exhibits a total weight of merely 6 kg and power consumption of 40 W, suitable for airborne platforms. Experimental validation confirms the system’s capability to store over 200 frames per second (at 640 × 270 resolution, matching the camera’s maximum frame rate), quick-look imaging capability, and demonstrated real-time processing efficacy via relative radio-metric correction tasks (processing 5000 image frames within 1000 ms). This framework provides an effective technical solution to address hyperspectral data processing bottlenecks more efficiently on UAV platforms for dynamic scenario applications. Future work includes actual flight deployment to verify performance in operational environments.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4822hyperspectralonboardreal-time processingFPGA-ARMembedded system
spellingShingle Ruifan Yang
Min Huang
Wenhao Zhao
Zixuan Zhang
Yan Sun
Lulu Qian
Zhanchao Wang
Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Sensors
hyperspectral
onboard
real-time processing
FPGA-ARM
embedded system
title Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
title_full Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
title_fullStr Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
title_full_unstemmed Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
title_short Onboard Real-Time Hyperspectral Image Processing System Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
title_sort onboard real time hyperspectral image processing system design for unmanned aerial vehicles
topic hyperspectral
onboard
real-time processing
FPGA-ARM
embedded system
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/15/4822
work_keys_str_mv AT ruifanyang onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles
AT minhuang onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles
AT wenhaozhao onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles
AT zixuanzhang onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles
AT yansun onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles
AT luluqian onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles
AT zhanchaowang onboardrealtimehyperspectralimageprocessingsystemdesignforunmannedaerialvehicles