DRS Technologies, Inc., a Finmeccanica Company, announced its Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) business unit has produced an advanced, full-featured thermal camera that consumes less than one watt of power to produce a thermal image.
 
Slightly smaller than a golf ball, the Tamarisk(tm)320 occupies less than 30 cubic centimeters of space and, depending on the selected configuration, weighs as little as 30 grams (just over one ounce). It is available with a variety of lens focal lengths and horizontal fields of view.

DRS RSTA developed the Tamarisk320 thermal camera, which it will manufacture at its facilities in Melbourne, Florida and Dallas, Texas.

The thermal imager detects infrared (heat) energy that is emitted by persons, objects and structures. It produces clear imagery for the viewer, even through smoke, dust, haze, light fog and total darkness.

DRS' Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers plan to incorporate the imager in a variety of applications including security and surveillance, unmanned aerial vehicles, portable handheld devices, and other commercial applications.

"This latest innovation extends RSTA's standing as the thermal imaging industry's technology leader and largest producer of uncooled detectors in the world," says RSTA President Terry Murphy.

"The Tamarisk320 defines a new standard in compact thermal imaging capabilities for deployment on systems serving the security and commercial sectors. Our OEM customers will benefit from the small size, weight and power attributes of our new thermal imager, its proven quality, as well as our customer support."

In addition to its standard range of lens configurations, it is also available in a lens-less configuration that allows OEMs to mount their own custom optics. Modular electronics makes the imager very easy to integrate into systems produced by manufacturers, and its low power consumption can provide extended capabilities to those systems. As a result, the imager can contribute substantially to increased complete system performance.

For example, unmanned aerial vehicles using the Tamarisk320 can expand their mission times and coverage areas.