Ben-Gurion University Researchers Develop Software Enabling Standard Cameras to Capture Hyperspectral Images and Video

BEER-SHEVA, Israel, December 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

New software developed by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers enables standard cameras to capture hyperspectral images and video -- a faster and more cost-efficient approach than what is commercially available today.

The game-changing software captures the spectral signature of every pixel in a single image - a significant improvement over the current spectrometric technology, which can only measure one point or line at a time. It can also create hyperspectral videos, instantly collecting hyperspectral information on non-static objects.

The software can be installed in existing cameras, including smartphone cameras, turning them into extremely low-cost and fast-working hyperspectral cameras.

Existing hyperspectral cameras capture the entire electromagnetic spectrum and are used to detect specific materials and identify qualities in these materials, such as analysis of the earth's composition, vegetation, the existence of oil or impurities in water. Yet these cameras are expensive and cumbersome to use; and can take up to a minute for photographing each frame.

"Current hyperspectral technology seeks to capture the entire electromagnetic spectrum," says Prof. Ohad Ben-Shahar, founding director of the Interdisciplinary Computational Vision Laboratory and head of the Department of Computer Science at BGU. "Our technology, however, shows that wavelengths in nature cover only a small subset of all possible spectra (since the spectrum of the sun is relatively stable and the number of substances in the world is finite). Using computational research, we were able to reconstruct hyperspectral imaging from the regular RGB color model used in regular cameras. In most cases, this provides extremely good reconstruction."  

The global hyperspectral imaging systems market is projected to reach $12.71 billion by 2021, according to a Markets and Markets Report published in January 2017.

"Our researchers conduct world-leading research in the field of computational vision and electro-optical engineering, and a great part of this research can be employed for commercial use," says Mr. Netta Cohen, CEO of BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of BGU.

BGN Technologies has patented the invention and is working with the researchers to commercialize the invention.

"This particular invention will help make hyperspectral technology more accessible, "adds Boaz Arad, a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science and the co-creator of the project, "expanding its use to new fields such as improved color imagery and light sensitivity in regular photography".

About BGN Technologies 

BGN Technologies is the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University, Israel. BGN Technologies brings technological innovations from the lab to the market and fosters research collaborations and entrepreneurship among researchers and students. To date, BGN Technologies has established over 100 startup companies in the fields of Biotech, Hi-tech and Cleantech and initiated leading technology hubs, incubators and accelerators. Over the past decade, BGN Technologies has focused on creating long-term partnerships with multinational corporations such as Deutsche Telekom, Dell-EMC, IBM and PayPal, securing value and growth for Ben-Gurion University as well as the Negev region. For more information, visit the BGN Technologies website.

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SOURCE BGN Technologies