iXM-100 imaging product

The iXM-100 is a 100-megapixel medium-format aerial camera from Phase One, designed for drone-based mapping and inspection payloads. It pairs a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor with interchangeable Phase One RSM lenses that have an integrated leaf shutter, and it is meant to be built into a payload or into a synchronized multi-camera system.

The sensor delivers 11,664 by 8,750 pixels with a pixel size of 3.76 microns, in RGB or achromatic versions. For mapping this resolution means a wide swath per frame at a given ground sampling distance, so fewer flight lines cover a project area. The dynamic range is 83 dB and light sensitivity runs from ISO 50 to 6400 for RGB and from ISO 200 to 25600 for the achromatic version. The maximum field of view is 63 degrees, and the continuous frame rate is listed at 3 fps with raw files of about 65 MB each in IIQ format.

Five RSM lenses are offered, with focal lengths from 35 mm to 300 mm and apertures of f/5.6 or f/8. The leaf shutter inside the lens reaches 1/2500 s, which limits motion blur at flight speed and avoids the distortion of a rolling shutter. Images can be stored on a CFexpress card of up to 1 TB.

For integration, the camera weighs 630 g and measures 90 by 90 by 67 mm, both without the lens, and mounts through four M4 threads. Image data go out over USB 3.0 or 10G Ethernet on fiber or copper, with a 1920 by 1080 HDMI output for monitoring. The Phase One SDK serves as the control interface. Hardware signals include trigger and black reference inputs and camera ready and middle exposure pulse outputs. Synchronization between cameras in a multi-camera configuration reaches 50 microseconds. Power input is 12 to 30 VDC with a maximum consumption of 16 W.

The camera has weather protection of IP53 and an operating temperature range of -10 to 40 degrees C at 15 to 80 percent non-condensing humidity. Approvals are FCC Class A, CE and RoHS. The matching iX Process software handles radiometric adjustments and links to photogrammetry workflows using the IIQ format. Typical applications are aerial mapping, photogrammetry and corridor or infrastructure inspection from large unmanned aircraft and crewed aircraft.