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Space Lab® SSP Imager

A Smart Spectral Polarimetric Imager for Autonomous Plant Health Monitoring

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Space Lab® SSP Imager

Space Lab Technologies, LLC in collaboration with the University of Florida will be developing "A Smart Spectral Polarimetric Imager for Autonomous Plant Health Monitoring" (SSP Imager) under a 2021 Phase I National Aeronautics and Space Administration STTR. 

We are extremely excited to advance this technology for growing plants in space! 

Click here to view the abstract

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​The Space Lab® Smart Spectral Polarimetric Imager, or SSP Imager, provides noncontact-based autonomous monitoring of macroscopic morphological features and plant stress through understanding the polarization of the spectral reflectance from plant canopies. This polarimeter may be coupled with a multispectral or hyperspectral imager/detector used in current plant health monitoring.

Fully Characterized Spectral Polarization Flux for Plant Canopy Reflectance – The reflected light from the canopy will be processed to provide a full characterization of polarization information for the spectrum of interest. This will be completed by determining a full set of Stokes parameters. Stray stimuli may be able to be removed, as well plant morphology and stress may be monitored, such as water stress. The polarimeter section of the instrument includes variable retarders, polarizer, and associated optics.

Compact Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for Autonomous Monitoring – Autonomous operation is essential due to the limitation of available crew time. The flight system will include an on-board field programmable gate array (FPGA) device capable of real-time image processing. This allows for autonomous monitoring of plant morphological features and detection of plant stresses, as well as instrument control and communication.

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