IMAO: B66 starts operational phase!

Pierre FAROUT, CEO of IMAO is proud to announce that the final stages of radiometric and geometric calibrations have been achieved to a complete success. This adventure mobilised a motivated R&D team consisting in photonics, physics, and electronics PhDs & software engineers.

The unusual characteristics of this 770 Mega pixels camera adapted to conventional aircraft platforms is a real advantage for geographical data acquisition.

Two to three times larger than the standard images size generated by the current cameras on the market, B66 pictures (TIFF color and NIR) require less processing time. The aim is to provide usable TIFF images directly for the market players.

With a 6 µm pixel size (CCD sensor), a ground resolution of 5 cm at 5000 ft AGL and a 185 mm focal lenght, conditions are met to revolutionise the sector.

With B66, only 5400 images are generated for 2500 sqkm at 5 cm GSD.

Let’s imagine the possibilities due to the images storage capabilities which is up to 5000 images (15 To)…

Jean-Paul VERNIERE, Chief Technology Officer is particularly delighted by the Real Time Operating System (RTOS) which is running under Linux and the 25 CPU working simultaneously. A new IMAO-own designed Forward Motion Compensation (FMC), could compensate the blur up to 150 pixels, B66 is able to capture 2cm GSD at 150 kts.

From the beginning, B66 was designed by professionals in aerial data acquisition. It optimises aircraft overflight constraints, reduces flight time and processing time. Finally costs are minimised!

Innovation isn't a bed of roses. To reach the end of this beautiful project has been a real proof of perseverance. "This is a great victory, we didn't imagine such a path when we started 6 years ago! " Says Pierre Farout. B66 is now full part of the company production tools. Today, IMAO starts B66 manufacturing.