Fastest RAW to JPG for Aerial Imaging

Product Overview

SkyBoost is a workstation-grade acceleration solution designed to eliminate post-processing bottlenecks by performing high-volume and high quality RAW to JPG conversion using a dedicated hardware accelerator. Unlike standard software that relies on CPU or GPU processing, this platform ensures rapid batch processing for Aerial Mapping, Orthophoto, and Large-Scale Inspection—especially when utilizing High-Resolution Sensors (HRS) in demanding Outdoor Imaging environments.

By massively reducing the processing time per image, the solution processes terabytes of aerial imagery in less than an hour. It converts massive “data dumps” from flight missions into ready-to-use imagery at speeds 50x faster than standard market solutions.

Solving the RAW to JPG Backlog

In high-end aerial surveying, the challenge shifts from the aircraft to the office the moment the drone lands. A single flight can generate thousands of high-resolution RAW files, creating a massive data backlog. Standard software tools like Capture One™ or RawTherapee are excellent for interactive editing but struggle to handle this industrial scale, often tying up workstations for days.

SkyBoost addresses these challenges by offloading the conversion to a dedicated hardware engine:

• The system performs Batch Processing of High-Resolution RAW (Bayer) data stored on local drives.
• FPGA-based ISP enhances image quality identically to high-end camera pipelines.
• Hardware acceleration delivers performance more than 50x faster than software-based conversion.
• Reduces project turnaround time from days to minutes (or hours for massive datasets).

Furthermore, this approach frees up your standard workstations for other tasks, as the heavy lifting is handled entirely by the SkyBoost accelerator card.

High Quality RAW to JPG Pipeline Optimized for Aerial Imaging

An FPGA-based image processing pipeline optimized for aerial imaging performs all stages deterministically to ensure maximum quality. Specifically, the pipeline includes:

• Demosaicing – Converts raw Bayer data into sharp, full-color RGB imagery
• High Dynamic Range (HDR) – Captures superior details in high-contrast lighting conditions
• Chromatic Aberration Correction – Corrects color fringing and lens-related color misalignments for crisper edges
• Non-Uniformity Correction (NUC) – Calibrates individual pixel responses to ensure a uniform image across the entire sensor
• Bad Pixel Replacement (BPR) – Automatically identifies and compensates for defective pixels in real time
• Dynamic Luminance Balance – Preserves consistent brightness under changing illumination
• White Balance – Maintains color accuracy across variable lighting conditions
• High-Speed JPG compression exceeding a 10:1 ratio directly on the FPGA.

All processing stages operate with high-throughput buffering, ensuring stable performance even when processing massive folders of high-resolution imagery.

High-Throughput RAW to JPG Conversion

The architecture handles ultra-high-resolution sensors, supporting image widths of up to 32K pixels. This corresponds to cameras of up to ~500MP, ensuring compatibility with the most advanced mapping sensors.

In high-volume batch workflows, the system can process over 3 images per second.

Deployment on Workstations and Edge Systems

SkyBoost is designed for easy integration into existing IT infrastructure via PCIe FPGA Accelerator cards or Embedded Edge Computers. This makes it the ideal engine for processing massive aerial imaging datasets across two primary deployment formats:

• PCIe FPGA Accelerator cards – Installed in standard office workstations or servers
• Embedded Edge Computers – Standalone units

ISP Customization for RAW Image Processing

The ProcVision SDK provides full control over the Image Signal Processing pipeline through FPGA-level customization. This enables application-specific ISP design to meet precise imaging requirements.

Additionally, the system calibrator handles pipeline optimization, allowing configuration of the processing flow to balance image quality, compression ratio, and throughput based on the specific needs of the mapping project.

Why Choose SkyBoost for Your Data Workflow?

SkyBoost transforms the economics of aerial mapping by virtually eliminating the processing “wait time”. By processing > 1 Terapixel / Hour, it allows you to deliver orthophotos and 3D models to clients faster than ever before. It provides the industrial speed required to match the industrial volume of modern aerial sensors.

Looking for On-the-Fly processing? See SkyBoost-RT.