Design and Demonstration of Compact and Lightweight Imaging Spectrometer Based on Schwarzschild Reflector Systems Using Commercial Off-the-Shelf Optics

Hyperspectral imaging systems are widely used in precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, and mineral exploration. However, current systems often suffer from high cost, large size and weight, and considerable system complexity, which hinder their widespread deployment. To overcome these limitations and achieve a better balance between performance, cost, and portability, this work aims to develop a compact, cost-effective visible-to-near-infrared (VNIR, 400–1000 nm) hyperspectral camera based on Schwarzschild configuration and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The development followed a comprehensive methodology encompassing theoretical design, simulation, prototype assembly, and performance testing. The all-reflective optical system effectively eliminates chromatic aberration and minimizes energy loss, achieving an integration time as short as several milliseconds and a push-broom frame rate of 200 fps. The optical design leveraged optical path length theory and the unobscured Schwarzschild structure to optimize off-axis mirrors and a plane grating. Optical performance was optimized and verified using simulations, which confirmed that spot sizes at all field positions were highly concentrated and that critical distortions such as smile and keystone were controlled within several pixels. A prototype was assembled on a precision optical bench using multi-axis adjustable mounts and then integrated into a precisely machined housing, achieving a total weight less than 2 kg. Calibration verified a spectral coverage of 400–1000 nm and a resolution of 5 nm. Imaging experiments demonstrated the system’s ability to resolve subtle spectral features, successfully distinguishing different vegetations and artificial materials based on their spectral signatures—particularly the strong NIR (780–1000 nm) reflectance of vegetation versus synthetic green materials. The camera offers a high-performance, low-cost solution suitable for applications including precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, mineral exploration, and others.