High End Engineering Photonic Labs

Our goal is to provide the tools that help make our families and our neighborhoods safe places to live and work. We do that by creating optical devices that watch our borders, monitor the environment and provide help to public safety personnel to reduce crimes that impact our lives.

About Us

Products

Our optical systems elevate UAV surveys, enhance border and port security, and improve military operations. They also help in monitoring crop health, offering simple yet powerful solutions across various sectors.

Multispectral Imaging

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Hyperspectral Imaging

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News

Photonic to Develop Onboard SSA for EU Satellites in BODYGUARD Project

Photonic is proud to announce its participation in the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2023 project BODYGUARD, a pioneering initiative aimed at enhancing the autonomy and resilience of European space assets. This project seeks to develop advanced onboard capabilities for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), enabling satellites to independently detect, assess, and counteract a diverse range of threats.

Coordinated by Agenium Space from France, the BODYGUARD consortium brings together a diverse group of organizations from across Europe, including:

  • Agenium Space (France)
  • Photonic (Latvia)
  • Elenic Teknolotzy of Rompotiks Symmetochon Societe Anonyme (Greece)
  • Emtronix SARL (Luxembourg)
  • Network Research Belgium SA (Belgium)
  • Optronic Instruments & Products (Belgium)
  • Oulun Yliopisto (Finland)
  • Polar Orbital OY (Finland)
  • Aldoria (France)
  • Space Inventor APS (Denmark)
  • Vimotek AB (Sweden)

The project has secured full funding from the EDF, with a total budget of €6,478,087.50, and is set to span 36 months.

BODYGUARD represents a significant advancement in the field of autonomous space defense. By focusing on the development of onboard SSA capabilities, the project aims to reduce reliance on ground-based systems, thereby increasing the operational independence and superiority of European satellites. These capabilities will enable satellites to autonomously detect potential threats, assess their severity, and implement appropriate countermeasures, such as deploying robotic interventions or laser systems to neutralize hazards.

Photonic’s role in BODYGUARD is development of satellite laser ranging system development working onboard satellite. Leveraging its extensive experience in satellite laser ranging research and innovation initiatives, Photonic will contribute to the project’s success by providing this important node of complex satellite system for space situational acquisition system, facilitating collaboration among many reputable EU space technology companies.

Support for the implementation of post-doctoral research
Support for the implementation of post-doctoral research
Research project "Design of Long-Distance High Data Rate Laser Optical Communication Systems" in collaboration with the State Education Development Agency.

Laser communication has potential advantages in comparison to radio frequency communication for space vehicles. The project team developed the concept of the bidirectional communication system for free space (FSO) laser communication links from space terminals (ST) at low Earth orbit (LEO) nano-, microsatellites with emphasis on CubeSat or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to transportable or to stationary positioned optical ground based terminal (GT) to achieve the high data rate communications. 
Research project "Design of Long-Distance High Data Rate Laser Optical Communication Systems"06.05.2022.
Our researcher proposed and verified the system for three-dimensional incoherent imaging using spiral rotating point spread functions created by double-helix beams that exhibit higher focal depth than direct imaging systems. I firmly believe that the current study will open a pathway for implementing different incoherent exotic beams and structured light for multidimensional and multispectral imaging technologies.
Research project "Design of Long-Distance High Data Rate Laser Optical Communication Systems"07.03.2022.
Metalens design with silicon cross-shaped meta-atoms that form two-polarization dependent focal points was developed. The dielectric metalens with controlled functionality operates in a visible regime to generate subwavelength light intensity distributions with an extended depth of focus, which is highly desirable in numerous applications that can not be achieved by mono-polarization.
Research project "Design of Long-Distance High Data Rate Laser Optical Communication Systems"10.12.2021.
Robust demultiplexing of OAM beams of different values into various geometrical configurations over a broad wavelength range was demonstrated. The proposed approach paves a way to reduce the cost of the commercial OAM modes-based communication systems and projects a simple method for increasing the number of channels in the communication system over free-space or fiber links with minimal intermodal crosstalk.
Projekts tiek īstenots sadarbībā ar LIAA

The project is being implemented in collaboration with LIAA*

Project ‘Planning for the Establishment of the Space and Related Sectors Testing and Trial Center,’ in collaboration with partner organizations Riga Technical University (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Transport, and Aeronautics, Aeronautics Institute) and SIA ‘Baltic Scientific Instruments.’

Funding has been allocated under the project ‘Development of the Space Technology and Service Cluster 2012-2015’

*Latvian Investment and Development Agency

Publications

Find publications and press releases. This page is still in development and is not a complete list of all publications.

Space Science and Technology

Bidirectional space to ground
laser communication system for cubesat

Laser communication has potential advantages in comparison to radio frequency communication for space vehicles. The project team developed the concept of the bidirectional communication system for free space (FSO) laser communication links from space terminals (ST) at low Earth orbit (LEO) nano-, microsatellites with emphasis on CubeSat or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to transportable or to stationary positioned optical ground based terminal (GT) to achieve the high data rate communications. 

Very accurate pointing and tracking capability will be provided by options of optical auto-tracking for both ST and GT. This capability will provide fast moving of flying platforms with very precise visible movement tracking of their optical axes of telescopes and their optical alignment. Such improvement will allow optical transmission of data over a long distance while requiring fewer resources from the hardware of flying platform ST. These solutions give significant advantages compared to existing solutions. Our innovative diffraction resolution without aberration of the optical system with broad spectrum band will be used for the ST during of work of transmission, receiving, and video optical channels. The optical systems of GT embedded in the lightweight 2-axes alt-azimuth mount with enhanced turning range will allow smooth, high-speed tracking without any gaps at zenith. All optical system axes of GT and the alt-azimuth mount axes are controlled by an auto-collimator having unique auto-adjustment feature. The innovative stationary positioned GT is also proposed.

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  • (+371) 29395146
  • andris.treijs[at]heephotonic.eu
  • (+371)26545443
  • jelena.kupate[at]heephotonic.eu

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  • Mon-Fri 9:00 - 18:00

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  • Nomales 6-25
    Riga, LV-1002, Latvia

Photonic Ltd.

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High End Engineering Photonic Labs

High End Engineering Photonic Labs Ltd. (HEE Photonics Labs) is an small medium size enterprise, which, thanks to the long term experience and expertise of their staff, consultants and experts, can provide a high efficiency approach to development of the satellite laser ranging technologies and instruments. Company has strategic relationships with Latvian University, and in collaboration with university scientists – inventors patented a revolutionary research – advanced optical system, that gives improved technical parameters. The company staff has unique multidisciplinary expertise in optical design, laser technology, electronics, very precise mechanics, extremely precise event timing, signal processing hardware and software, database management, astronomy and astrometry. 

HEE Photonics Labs is a spin-off of the University of Latvia, Institute of Astronomy (part of Association FOTONIKA-LV –www.lu.lv/FOTONIKA-LV). The company was founded to commercialize research results as well as to participate in various scientific projects related to space photonics. Some engineers of the staff was envolved into everyday service of Satellite Laser Ranging station in Riga. Their lively expertise allows us the development of advanced optical systems for earth observation and high precision universal satellite laser ranging for observation and tracking of unknown flying objects, and laboratory test. The leading scientists of HEE Photonic Labs has long term and multidisciplinary experience in development of space and military optical systems since sowiet times. Totally 7 high precision SLR instruments for tracking of unknown space objects has been designed by this team members, produced in Riga and installed in Metseahovi (Finland), Potzdam (Germany), (Ukraine – 4)  and Riga (Latvia), as well as about 50  various space-related optical devices over the world.  

© 2025. All rights Reserved. Photonic Ltd.

Multispectral Imaging Cameras

Multispectral imaging means method for spectral imaging where one obtains images corresponding to a couple of spectral channels. The used spectral region are at least partially outside the visible spectral range, covering parts of the infrared region. Proposed multi-spectral imager provide wavelength channels for red, green, blue, and short wave infrared, for specific cases we offer even thermal radiation.

Multispectral cameras are often customized for specific applications. Technologies and devices in the electromagnetic spectrum ranges from the edge of the near-IR region at 900 nm up to 1700 nm – the shortwave infrared (SWIR) are developing rapidly. Indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) and alike video sensors can image within this waveband in surveillance applications and can benefit in comparison with VIS spectral range. In SWIR spectra range the rays have reduced atmospheric scattering due to mist, dust and smoke with a certain sizes of their component particles and therefor have an ability to penetrate hazy, misty or smoky conditions, critical in a long-range surveillance system. In addition, SWIR wavelengths are affected less by atmospheric turbulence and heat haze compared with conventional visible-band color cameras.

Using SWIR at night has another major advantage. An atmospheric phenomenon called „night sky radiance” emits five to seven times more illumination than starlight – nearly all of it in the SWIR spectra range. With a SWIR camera in this night radiance – often called „nightglow” – one can observe objects with great clarity on moonless nights as no other imaging technology can do. Another advantage of the SWIR spectra band is oportunity to illuminate the surrounding area with appropriate spectra laser (invisible to most „ordinary” light detectors) providing high-quality night vision when coupled with a SWIR camera. InGaAs sensors can be made extremely sensitive (area sensor typical sensetivity till 70% to compare with VIS field sensor: 40 – 50% ).

A SWIR image can appear similar to an image acquired in the visible spectrum and although the rays in SWIR spectra range is not visible to human eye, the photons interact with objects in a similar fashion as in the VIS spectra range (reflected photons – unlike thermal images, that rely on radiated photons). Therefore, SWIR images resemble visible (black and white) images: shadows occur, contrast is high and persons or objects can be recognizable. This makes a SWIR camera a most powerful surveillance tool. 

The new multispectral video surveillance system is proposed with better parameters in comparison with existing in the market. It is achieved with designing new extended spectral bandwidth telescopic system and multiple new spectral video cameras for the same field of vision and equipped with complementary devices.

  • Our product will improve surveillance quality for following user groups:
  • Border air surveillance from varying types of airborne platforms
  • Air base security, boat detection for coastal surveillance, port and harbor protection,
  • Police, anti-terrorist and law enforcement, anti-smuggling surveillance,
  • Search and rescue. The UAV ability to scan and search through an amount of air and smoke is an advantage in rescue and search situations.

Photonic introduces multispectral (visible-to-SWIR), highest resolution optic with high resolution sensor camera, far superior compared to existing available SWIR camera systems

  • The highest optical resolution compare to similar existing systems:
  • 0.25 km face recognition quality
  • 2 km small arms recognition quality
  • 3 km - man
  • 13 km – motorcar
  • 21 km – truck
  • 30 km - ship recognition quality
  • The resolution determined:
  • face-recognition: Picture with resolution of less than 0.3 cm in reality
  • armed men (small arms) recognition: with resolution of less than 3 cm
  • man recognition: with resolution of less then 6 cm
  • motocar (pattern: 4 x 2.5 m) recognition: with resolution of less than 30 cm
  • truck (pattern: 8 x 2.5 m) recognition: with resolution of less than 80 cm
  • ship (pattern: 15 x 6 m) recognition: with resolution of less than 300 cm

The cameras are intended for use in applications for high resolution multispectral long-distance surveillance for civilian, law enforcement and military. Even though SWIR imaging technology designed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has made significant advances in sensor, software and data processing over the past several years, it is still lacking in size and weight reductions.

By the way significant difference is reductions in cost. Our multispectral imager for UAV payload is simple and cost-effective, compare to existing multispectral cameras that cost about hundred thousand of euros. As consequence our optical system implementation will provide new opportunities for UAV payload producers, and will facilitate the creation of quality high-tech products in aerospace industry.

[1] ftp://ftp.stemmer-imaging.com/websites/documents/products/cameras/AVT/en-Allied-Vision-Technologies-AVT-Pearleye-AVT-Goldeye-SIWR-and-LWIR-camera-technology-KAVTO36-201306.pdf

© 2025. All rights Reserved. Photonic Ltd.

Hyperspectral Imaging Camera: Revolutionizing Vision Beyond the Visible

 Hyperspectral imaging has grown increasingly popular over the past ten years in military, industrial, and scientific arenas. The ability to precisely characterize the color of a viewed item, whether a camouflaged vehicle, a bruise on an arm or on fruit, or a wide swath of vegetation, allows the user to make informed decisions only dreamed of in the past

Hyperspectral imaging is a combination of the digital imaging technology and spectroscopy. Hyperspectral cameras are capable of capturing the spectrum of each individual pixel within the imagery of a particular scene. With hyperspectral imaging, you can find objects, identify materials and detect processes within a given image.

With the development of remote sensing technology, the application of hyperspectral images is becoming more and more widespread. The accurate classification of ground features through hyperspectral images has attracted widespread attention. Nevertheless, there are several issues that must be handled.

Existing hyperspectral imaging technology still have certain limitations for successful hyperspectral image classification. Basic problem is that up to now researchers was not able to obtain hyperspectral remote sensing images with high spatial resolution and high spectral resolution at the same time.

Because of this technical constraint, existing optical systems can only offer the following relationship between spatial and spectral resolution: a high spatial resolution associated with a low spectral resolution or vice versa.

For comparison:

image with low spatial resolution

image with high spatial resolution

When the size of the ground resolution cell is very large, it is more likely that more than one material contributes to an individual spectrum measured by the sensor. The result is a composite or mixed spectrum. For HIS software such mixtures are very difficult to unravel. Smeared spatial picture not only affect our ability to retrieve accurate spectral reflectance values for ground features, but also introduce additional within-scene variability which hampers comparisons between individual image cells.

Photonic solve above mentioned issue before the image processing. Historically, remote sensing has encompassed a wide variety of environmental learning pursuits using satellites and aircraft. But modern technology is not yet so advanced as to obtain a quality image suitable for detailed spectroscopy from large distance, only the spectrum of large objects can be determined, therefore it was inaccurate endeavors. Our advanced hyperspectral imaging can monitor precious resources with the help of UAV’s and their capability to cover an extensive area with high spatial detail.


Even though technology designed for airplanes has made significant advances in software and data processing over the past several years, it is still lacking in development of size and weight reduction. The plenty of small size systems operating at present are designed as low sensitivity cameras and lack high resolution capabilities, since these systems sacrifice considerable spatial resolution to increase the spectral resolution. The utility of captured data for video analysis applications is limited. Also, there is still a strong need for higher spatial resolution at higher spectral resolution and more spectral bands.

  • Our HIS technical advantages:
  • Superb imaging performance with high both spatial and spectral resolution
  • One common broadband optical system 400 to 2500 nm
  • suitable for low light applications
  • compact and lightweight
  • cost effective
  • Hyperspectral applications include agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, marine and ocean observation, geosciences, physics and surveillance. Hyperspectral images can be very helpful for
  • detecting the presence of some materials of interest (e.g., pollutants) in the scene,
  • estimating some physical variables of interest, and
  • gaining some knowledge on the scene under study.
  • Examples of applications utilizing airborne hyperspectral imaging systems:
  • Agriculture: Precision farming, growth monitoring, yield prediction, governmental monitoring. It is important to take corrective action early in the growing season by understanding crop conditions such as crop health and stress due to problems such as nutrient deficiency, moisture stress and pests. The SWIR band at 2.2 micrometers resolution makes it possible to detect the amount of crop residue left behind after a crop is harvested and how to till the soil. The SWIR band at 1.6 micrometers will make it possible to see whether an agricultural field contains sufficient moisture.
  • Forestry: Forest mapping/classification, forest health monitoring
  • Geology: Mineral mapping, environmental impact around mine areas. The geology and mining industries spend millions of dollars to identify potential mining sites during their exploration phase. Utilizing SWIR data mining operations can cut costs and increase efficiency by narrowing the potential area before a field verification is planned.
  • Environmental monitoring: Algae blooming, oil spill detection, land and sea monitoring, glaciology.
  • Government: Land use monitoring, urban planning/management. Manual detection of building rooftops can be an expensive and tedious task but with the new SWIR bands, automatic identification and mapping of urban surface materials can reduce the time it takes, thus saving you time and money.
  • Defense and security: Military target detection/identification, surveillance, search and rescue.

© 2025. All rights Reserved. Photonic Ltd.