What Bodkin Design & Engineering does

Bodkin Design & Engineering, LLC is a privately held, Newton, Massachusetts-based optical engineering firm founded in 1992 by Andrew Bodkin. The company designs and manufactures snapshot hyperspectral imaging systems spanning the ultraviolet through longwave infrared spectrum (300 nm to ~11 µm), built on its patented HyperPixel Array (HPA) architecture that captures full spectral datacubes in a single frame with no moving parts. Its product portfolio includes the ULTRIS family of light field hyperspectral cameras (X20 Plus, X20, 5, SWIR1, XMR), the MWIR-20/60 and LWIR-62 infrared snapshot imagers, the microHSI 410 and 425 SHARK airborne mapping systems, the Neptune and Monarch Pro portable NIR cameras, the Solomon VIS/NIR + RGB system, the FOHSI-UV high-speed combustion imager, the Ximea VIS3/NIR2 OEM module, and a complete line of IR calibration instruments (BB, DCN, MRDT, ECN, and RCN blackbody sources plus BBC-58, OPAL, and IRCOL collimators). Supporting software includes the CUVIS platform with CUVIS.ai classification (Spectral Angle Mapper) and Spectra Explorer, plus Python and C APIs.

The firm's business model combines product sales of its proprietary cameras and calibration hardware with custom engineering services and OEM design-and-build partnerships, supplemented by an equipment rental program in the Boston area. The customer base is dominated by U.S. federal agencies (Navy, Air Force, Army, NASA, MDA, USDA, DHS) accessed primarily through SBIR/STTR contracts, with episodic commercial work for integrators and OEMs such as Space Computer Corporation and Marvin Test Solutions, plus smaller engagements in industrial inspection, agriculture, marine, biotech, healthcare (Boston Children's Hospital), and academic research (Boston University). Go-to-market is direct sales via the company website and phone/email, supported by technical white papers, a video library, online calculators, and trade show participation; pricing is fully quote-based with 10–20 week lead times, and the firm operates with 1–10 employees, is bootstrapped, and has no disclosed parent or equity investment.

Name

Bodkin Design & Engineering

Legal name

Bodkin Design & Engineering, LLC

Website

https://bodkindesign.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bodkin Design & Engineering designs snapshot hyperspectral imaging systems and IR calibration instruments using its patented HyperPixel Array technology. The Newton, MA firm primarily serves U.S. defense agencies, NASA, and commercial OEMs through SBIR contracts and custom engineering services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Newton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Engineering Services: Product development, innovation, and engineering services to industrial, commercial, military, and research communities. Includes optical design, spectral imaging integration, and machine vision solutions.
2. Hyperspectral Camera Sales: Sale of spectral imaging products including ULTRIS series cameras, Ximea VIS3/NIR2 hyperspectral cameras, MWIR/LWIR thermal imagers, and specialty cameras for various wavelengths.
3. IR Calibration Products: Blackbody calibration sources (differential, flat plate, cavity, collimators) and IR calibration instruments. Includes OEM blackbody components for partners like Marvin Test Solutions.
4. Equipment Rental: Rental of hyperspectral and multispectral imaging equipment in the Boston area, with flexible rental lengths and application-specific guidance.
5. OEM Design & Build: OEM partnership services including concept development, detailed engineering, prototyping, validation, and production for electro-optics and spectral imaging systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bodkin Design & Engineering designs, manufactures, and sells hyperspectral imaging cameras covering the visible through long-wave infrared spectrum, plus precision infrared calibration equipment (blackbody sources and collimators). The company also delivers custom optical engineering services and OEM design-and-build programs for defense, aerospace, industrial, agricultural, and research clients. Complementary offerings include spectral imaging software (CUVIS) and short-term equipment rental of hyperspectral imagers.

Product overview

Bodkin Design & Engineering provides a comprehensive portfolio of spectral imaging products and optical engineering services. The core offering includes snapshot hyperspectral cameras spanning UV (300nm) through LWIR (11μm), featuring proprietary HyperPixel Array technology and light field cameras. Key product lines include: ULTRIS series (X20 Plus, X20, 5, SWIR1, XMR) for VNIR/SWIR applications; MWIR-20/60 and LWIR-62 for mid/longwave infrared; microHSI 410/425 SHARK for airborne UAV mapping; Neptune, Monarch Pro, and Solomon for portable/embedded NIR applications; and FOHSI-UV for high-speed combustion diagnostics. Supporting products include IR calibration blackbodies (BB-100, DCN1000, MRDT series, ECN, RCN), collimators (BBC-58, OPAL, IRCOL), and spectral analysis software (CUVIS, Spectra Explorer). Services encompass OEM design/build, equipment rental, and technical calculators. The company operates as both product manufacturer and value-added engineering partner for custom system development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ULTRIS X20 Plus Compact snapshot hyperspectral imaging camera based on the HyperPixel Array, designed for laboratory and field spectral imaging applications across the visible and near-infrared.
• ULTRIS X20 Snapshot hyperspectral camera covering the visible and near-infrared range, used for laboratory, industrial, and field spectral imaging.
• ULTRIS 5 Compact visible-spectrum hyperspectral camera for machine vision, research, and OEM integration.
• ULTRIS SWIR1 Snapshot hyperspectral camera operating in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) band for material identification, agricultural, and defense applications.
• ULTRIS XMR Extended-range snapshot hyperspectral camera covering a broad visible-to-near-infrared spectrum for advanced imaging applications.
• MWIR-20 Hyperspectral Imager Mid-wave infrared (MWIR) hyperspectral imager for thermal spectral imaging, defense, and research applications.
• MWIR-60 Hyperspectral Imager Mid-wave infrared hyperspectral imager with extended spectral or spatial resolution for thermal-band imaging.
• LWIR-62 Hyperspectral Imager Long-wave infrared (LWIR) hyperspectral imager for thermal signature analysis, chemical detection, and defense applications.
• SWIR-60 Hyperspectral Imager Short-wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imager for material identification, moisture detection, and remote sensing.
• microHSI 410 Airborne Hyperspectral Imager Compact airborne hyperspectral imaging system designed for UAV, manned aircraft, and field-deployment reconnaissance and remote sensing missions.
• microHSI 425 SHARK Airborne Hyperspectral Imager Higher-performance airborne hyperspectral imaging system for advanced aerial reconnaissance and remote sensing.
• Neptune Handheld Hyperspectral Imager Portable handheld hyperspectral imager for field measurements, point-and-shoot spectral imaging, and on-site material identification.
• Monarch Pro Hyperspectral Camera High-performance hyperspectral camera for demanding research, OEM, and integration applications.
• Solomon VIS/NIR Hyperspectral Imager Integrated visible and near-infrared hyperspectral imager for laboratory, agricultural, and OEM spectral imaging.
• FOHSI-UV Hyperspectral Imager Ultraviolet hyperspectral imager for UV-band spectral imaging, fluorescence, and forensic applications.
• VIS3/NIR2 Ximea Hyperspectral Camera VIS/NIR hyperspectral camera offered through Ximea for OEM integration and machine vision.
• BB-100 Blackbody Calibration Source Precision blackbody infrared calibration source for radiometric calibration of infrared cameras and sensors.
• DCN1000 Blackbody Calibration Source High-emissivity blackbody calibration source for IR sensor and system testing.
• MRDT-50 Differential Blackbody Differential-area blackbody calibration source for infrared system radiometric calibration and NUC testing.
• MRDT-X Differential Blackbody Extended-temperature differential blackbody calibration source for IR sensor testing.
• ECN100 Series Blackbody Extended-area blackbody calibration source for large-format and array IR sensor calibration.
• RCN Series Blackbody Reference-class blackbody calibration source for precision radiometric IR measurements.
• BBC-58 Collimator Compact broadband collimator for testing and characterizing infrared cameras and sensors.
• OPAL Collimator Off-axis parabolic collimator for optical testing, sensor characterization, and laboratory measurement.
• IRCOL Test Bench Collimator Integrated infrared test bench collimator system for characterizing IR sensors and cameras in a laboratory environment.
• CUVIS Spectral Imaging Software Software application for acquiring, viewing, and analyzing hyperspectral image data captured by Bodkin hyperspectral cameras.
• Spectra Explorer Software Software tool for exploring and analyzing spectral data cubes produced by hyperspectral imaging systems.
• Equipment Rental Program Short-term rental of Bodkin hyperspectral imaging systems for evaluation, research pilots, and short-duration projects.
• Custom Engineering Services Custom optical engineering services including optical design, spectral imaging integration, and machine vision solutions tailored to client applications.
• OEM Design and Build Services Full-service OEM design-and-build program covering concept development, detailed engineering, prototyping, validation, and production of customer-specific electro-optical systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminates motion artifacts in hyperspectral imaging for moving platforms and targets
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Space Computer Corporation (SCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2011Collaboration with SCC of Los Angeles, CA to develop hyperspectral imaging system covering visible to short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) for U.S. Naval periscopes. BD&E provides HyperPixel Array (HPA) imager while SCC contributes hyperspectral image processing capabilities to build prototype system for automatic contact recognition and identification in marine environments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SpecTIR: SpecTIR (now part of Daylight Solutions) develops airborne and ground-based hyperspectral imaging sensors for defense and remote sensing. Comparable as a hyperspectral sensor OEM with similar dual-use defense/commercial customer profile and wavelength coverage.
• Resonon: Resonon produces hyperspectral imaging cameras (VNIR, NIR, SWIR) and benchtop/field systems for laboratory, remote sensing, and industrial inspection. A direct peer in compact push-broom and snapshot hyperspectral cameras targeting research, agriculture, and defense customers.
• Surface Optics Corporation: Surface Optics designs and manufactures hyperspectral and multispectral imaging systems (SOC series) for defense, security, and industrial inspection. Directly comparable as a custom hyperspectral sensor developer serving defense and homeland security programs.
• Headwall Photonics: Headwall designs and manufactures hyperspectral imaging cameras and sensors covering VNIR, NIR, and SWIR for airborne, ground-based, and industrial applications. Directly comparable as a specialty hyperspectral camera OEM serving defense, remote sensing, and precision agriculture.
• Norsk Elektro Optikk (NEO): NEO builds HySpex hyperspectral cameras covering VNIR, NIR, SWIR, and MWIR for airborne, field, and laboratory use. A direct competitor in ruggedized hyperspectral imagers with comparable spectral band coverage and defense/research customer mix.
• Telops (Teledyne FLIR): Telops designs hyperspectral and high-speed infrared imaging cameras for defense, industrial, and academic applications. Directly comparable in MWIR/LWIR hyperspectral and radiometric calibration offerings; now part of Teledyne's broader imaging portfolio.
• Cubert GmbH: Cubert manufactures ULTRIS snapshot hyperspectral light field cameras that Bodkin Design distributes and integrates in North America. Directly comparable as a snapshot hyperspectral OEM with overlapping product lines (ULTRIS series) and similar industrial/research customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Teledyne FLIR: Teledyne FLIR is a broad incumbent in thermal infrared and scientific imaging, offering cameras and OEM cores across MWIR/LWIR/SWIR. Overlaps with Bodkin's defense IR calibration and imaging business as a much larger, diversified supplier with internal hyperspectral/SWIR capabilities.
• L3Harris Technologies: L3Harris is a major defense prime with electro-optical/infrared imaging systems across airborne, naval, and ground platforms. Competes with Bodkin in defense hyperspectral, periscope, and surveillance imaging programs at the system-integration level, with significantly greater resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bodkindesign

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bodkin Design & Engineering