Automatic and autonomous infrared system for remote sensing of forest fires

The proposed sensor is a new application of the well-known ratiometric tech niques to photoconductor array. In this case, the sensor is a photoconducto r multiplexer array of 64 x 4 pixels that covers a sector area 5 km range b y 20 degrees azimuth. The proposed system is an automatic and autonomous st aring system with only one fixed lens and no mobile parts in order to reduc e costs and maintenance. This article presents the fundamental contribution s of the new configuration system, especially the adaptive background capab ility. This configuration can compensate large temperature variations, nonu niformity, and ambient interference without complex algorithms or complex m echanical system. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(00)03 510-3].