The Spectral Imaging Laboratory (SPILAB) develops novel spectrometers and cameras. The principals are research scientists and engineers who pioneered the development of imaging spectrometers for planetary remote sensing. Their research began in 1985 at Rockwells Satellite and Space Electronics Division, birthplace of the Global Positioning Satellite system (GPS), and continued through the 1990s at Officine Galileos Space Optics Division, where the first Offner grating spectrometer was developed for the Cassini mission to Saturn.In 1996 the research expanded into spatially multiplexed Fourier transform infrared spectrometers and echelle grating spectrometers. The echelle grating spectrometer was ultimately adopted by NASAs Orbiting Carbon Observatory for earth remote sensing, and the spatial interferometers have been used for laser induced emission and breakdown spectroscopy. In 2004 the principals translated this line of research into SPILAB's work on bio-inspired artificial compound eyes, which are new types of distortion free, wide-angle cameras with an infinite depth of field (no focus adjustment is required). The firm also works on developing infrared cameras, spatial FTIR and LIBS, and Offner Grating Spectrometers.
