DRS signs teaming agreement with DII
JULY 9--DRS Technologies Inc. (Parsippany, NJ; www.drs.com) has signed a teaming agreement with Digital Imaging Infrared LLC (DII; Apopka, FL; www.dii-llc.com) to jointly produce and market the Digital Imaging DI-5000 and DI-7000 series pan-and-tilt thermal imaging systems for homeland-security applications and high-value asset protection. The camera systems are intended to provide surveillance of borders, military bases, dams, ports, building complexes, and infrastructure facilities, such as water and power utility operations and refineries. The DI-5000 currently is installed at the US Naval base in San Diego, CA.
The DI-5000 and DI-7000 product lines are comprised of lightweight, passive infrared, real-time, pan-and-tilt systems using the infrared and visible spectrums to provide thermal imagery and include eye-safe laser rangefinders. For the infrared capability, the systems use an infrared camera incorporating DRS's advanced U3000 uncooled microbolometer and were specifically designed around DRS's technology. For the visible function, the systems use a color day TV camera. DRS's manufacturing work share associated with this agreement will be performed by the company's DRS Optronics unit in Palm Bay, FL.
The DI-5000 and DI-7000 systems can display infrared and visible imagery separately or combined in fused real-time images. They have a continuous 360° rotational pan, tilt between +50° and -40°, and are housed in environmentally sealed enclosures. The lines contain DII's unique, modular, scalable software and flexible electronics card set, which is fully programmable, providing compatibility with a multitude of detectors for a number of missions. The cards are specifically designed to fit in many different enclosures and provide the computing power required for many user-defined features and performance levels.
The adaptability of DII's software allows the DRS-DII jointly developed products to maximize the wide array of uncooled infrared detectors produced by DRS.
Requiring a highly specialized and sophisticated development effort, infrared detector arrays are considered critical components in thermal imaging systems and frequently drive the design of the optical system. DRS's commercial customers are developing their products around DRS's uncooled focal-plane-array technology.
DRS provides advanced focal-plane-arrays, Dewar assemblies and coolers for several significant US military programs and develops long-range, advanced infrared sighting and weapons systems technology for day and night target detection under harsh environmental conditions. The company's uncooled infrared technology operates without cryogenic cooler assemblies for applications requiring lighter weight and smaller product size.
DII is a manufacturer and developer of thermal imaging systems. DII thermal imaging cameras are designed for a wide range of applications in the commercial, military, and public safety markets. The company's proprietary software allows it to utilize many different infrared sensors.