DARPA Funding Project Could Bring Thermal Imagery to Smartphones
- Posted on December 12, 2011 at 2:47pm by
Liz Klimas
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Smartphones are already doing so much more than just calling, texting and surfing the web. In the medical field, they’ve helped create in-the-field microscopes and spectrometers. They’ve also been used to watch cell cultures growing in real time.
The military is also finding uses for smartphones and tablets for troops, including apps for combat, and recently began to fund an effort to bring cheap thermal imagery technology to the devices.
New Scientist reports that today’s thermal imaging technology is clunky and expensive. DARPA has funded Raytheon $13.4 million over a three year period to create system that will work on smartphones:
Thermal imaging shows how the world looks at infrared wavelengths of 8 to 12 micrometres. At those wavelengths, people, warm-blooded animals, and operating engines glow brightly against the cooler background of plants and soil. Firefighters use thermal imaging cameras to identify dangerous hot spots. Soldiers use them to check what might be lurking in the brush, especially in dim light.
“Making high-performance thermal imagers available to every vehicle, surveillance device and dismounted soldier will give them greater situational awareness in low light, adverse weather and obscured environments,” said Charlie Cartwright, vice president of Raytheon Network Centric Systems’ Advanced Programs, in a news release.
The Verge reports that Raytheon was potentially awarded this contract for previous development of the NightDriver, an infrared camera and HUD for vehicles created in 1990s. Check out the promo video for that technology:
The goal is to make the technology smaller and cheaper so each soldier could have one if his or her back pocket, if necessary. At some point, the technology — once developed — could become commercially available.
[H/T Gizmodo]
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magedogtag
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 9:21pmreally, smartphones have ccd cameras. those cameras see infrared, or “thermal” already. the only reason you don‘t know they do is because there is a filter installed to block only infrared and they don’t block all of it.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 11:27amThis is old technology. Cadillac has had this type of thing in their cars as an option for going on 2 decades. Why isn’t this already in every camera and phone? All it takes is an infrared light sensor instead of a visible light sensor. And I’m willing to bet that the only difference would be a change in software and image processing algorithms.
When I was on active duty, my job was to fix comm/nav gear for aviation assets. That included night vision goggles. The intensifiers that were in these things had a list price of ~$3,000 per and were often replaced because of small burnt spots caused by overexposure (lasers) or dust getting inside the tube. Such a spot could be no larger than a few thousandths of an inch before the tube was considered defective. Most of the time the “defective” tubes were just thrown in the trash. Of course, keeping any of them would have been at least an NJP‘able offense if not a court martial for theft of gov’t property. But we basically threw away perfectly good night vision equipment daily. IF we could have sent it off to be sold at auction like most military equipment is, we could have at least recouped some of the cost of maintaining these systems and given the American taxpayer a chance to own a piece of technology that they already paid for. But no, the military is not a business and its’ officers are mindless drones.
Report Post »TROONORTH
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:21amI own a high rez I.R. scanner and I can tell you that people should stop taking what they see on the cop shows as the truth. I.R. unless of the highly technical type, which excludes virtually every hand held unit, will only give you a general indication of heat / cold. It will not tell you what the bad guy is using to pick his ear through six feet of concrete. Alarmists, relax. You are relatively safe from this technology while in the privacy of your own Fuhrer bunkers.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:55pmCops could use these to look for people growing marijuana in their houses.
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:20pmCause mary jane is so bad and evil. jk. Kids dont smoke pot its not as bad as smoking tobacco but almost. But if ur an adult and have no drug problem and work and take care of ur family. there is nothing wrong with smoking a little bud. atleast thats how I think
Report Post »rdietz7
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:34amI knew it! WAKEUP is a pot head. LOL This totally explains all the comments.
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 1:30amCmon, Wakeup…
We couldn’t have you competing with our partners in crime for revenue, the Mexican Drug Cartels and the Taliban in Afghanistan, now could we?
You just be a good little sheep and just say no…because we know you’ll rebel and just say yes, and probably buy some of our products so we can kick your door in at 4am. And when its too expensive or the quality of our imported schwag is garbage, then we’ll kick in your door for growing it.
You don’t like it? Oh well, we’re window repairmen out breaking windows.
SIGH.
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:26amlol ive smoked twice in my life. I have friends who are pot heads. Im still in college I cant afford to smoke right now lol. maybe when im older HAHA
Report Post »AJC1973
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:40pmyawn
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 8:12pm“will give them greater situational awareness in low light, adverse weather and obscured environments”
Translation: “Will let the Nazi Police State look through your walls. Every single one of them.”
Resist the Nazi Police State. They have commandeered our military, law enforcement, etc, and are using them against the American People.
Resist.
Report Post »WAKEUPUSA2012
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:18pmGot that right brother. DARPA the same people to bring us Geoengineering
Report Post »tinfoilhatman
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:08pmI don’t think they have commandeered our military, didn’t you hear about what happened with the national guard out west?
Report Post »warhorse_03826
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:53amthermal imaging will only let them see through your walls if you forgot to insulate them in the slightest.
2 inches of polystyrene will stop all but the most sensitive (like nitrogen-cooled) thermal imagers. the foil-backed polystyrene will stop millimeter-wave radars too.
so, unless you live in a plywood shack…you have nothing to fear from thermal imagers.
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