Optical Test and Evaluation Facility

The precision optical test and evaluation laboratory consist of precision optical test benches for testing and characterisation of surveillance and optical systems. These include:

• Night Vision Testing - Night vision devices can be tested for resolution performance under simulated night conditions.
• Resolution test bench - This bench is used for resolution testing of visible spectrum cameras. The total system modulation transfer function can also be determined on this bench. These results can be used to indicate a system's performance.
• Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) Test Bench – This facility is used to measure the MTF of the single lens component.
• Thermal Sensor test bench - the performance of a thermal sensor can be determined and compared with the relevant specifications for the camera.

Specifications of the Day Resolution facility

Light source for target illumination	12V50W Quartz halogen lamp with colour temperature of 2317K
Set of neutral density filters	T=34% to T=0.16%
Sets of Resolution Targets (USAF 1951 3 bar)	228 line pairs / mm to 0.0156 line pairs / mm
Collimator Lens	EFL=7.4m f/28 Triplet
Telescopes for afocal test type	EFL=300mm and EFL=140mm
Microscopes for focal test type	Set of eyepieces and objectives with different magnification
Monitors	High resolution 17-inch 750 line colour and High resolution 14-inch 1000 line B/W
Optical flat mirror 300mm diameter	Flatness: ≤0.08µm over any one of nine zones of 95mm diameter

Specifications of the Night Resolution facility