Design and Implementation of a Thermally Stable Automated Imaging System for a Remote CLaDS Methane Sensor

Abstract

An automated, robust imaging system for a near-infrared CLaDS methane sensor has been designed and implemented. This design addresses aws in the previous optics mount used with the sensor: long-term drift due to fringes produced by scattering from within the re ective body of the aluminum telescope, di culty in focusing the return beam due to expansion of the telescope, and sensitivity of the receiving optics to external mechanical perturbations in a wetland. The imaging system implements a color camera that is calibrated to the infrared detector and used for auto-focusing of both channels simultaneously. The receiving optics have also been redesigned to be robust and thermally stable. A carbon- ber truss telescope was designed and constructed to replace the aluminum telescope as the light collection element for re ectors and natural hard targets. The imaging system was installed in the methane sensor cabinet and successfully tested. Measurement of ambient as well as concentrated methane is demonstrated with the new imaging system incorporated with the sensor.