FLIR hot navigation tool turns night into day
by Tracey Johnstone on 6 May 2008
FLIR thermal imaging cameras turn night into day FLIR
http://www.flir.com/cvs/apac/en/maritime/
FLIR’s new breed of cameras, designed specifically for the maritime market, use the simplicity of thermal imaging combined with versatile high-tech cameras to achieve exceptional results.
FLIR’s Navigator and Voyager cameras are becoming the product of choice for Australia’s marine industry. Viewing distance, image clarity, intense zoom and wide view options are turning the jobs of maritime navigation, safety and security into a more effective process.
Coursemaster’s domestic sales manager Ian Briggs says the market for the new generation of FLIR cameras is rapidly expanding. 'As the company responsible for the distribution of the FLIR maritime cameras, we are finding ourselves selling them to boats anywhere from 21 feet and upwards to over 120 feet long.'
FLIR makes available in Australia two levels of their maritime cameras – the Navigator and the Voyager. Both are very effective for marine activities and similar in their basic tools. Their differences lie in the specific tools and add-ons. The basic tool of both types of cameras is the thermal imaging capability.
There are two different types of night vision – one is light enhancement and the other is thermal imaging using body heat for anything which is above absolute zero. When objects emit heat, or infra-red radiation, a thermal imaging camera can detect this heat. The camera then shows warmer images as white and cooler images as dark.
FLIR cameras do not require any light to assist detection.
Objects floating in the water, other vessels, buoys, bridges, objects that can’t be detected by radar such as sail boats and wooden boats, even a person in the water, can all be detected with a FLIR thermal imaging camera.
'If you can imagine you have a boat with no lights on it which is only a hundred metres in front of you, you would never see it. With these cameras, it would stand out.
'These cameras are also good for use in a setting or a rising sun situation where there is a lot of glare. You can look straight through. And, smoke or fog – you will see straight through that too,' says Briggs
It is like looking out in the daylight, turning night into day.
The Navigator
The FLIR Navigator cameras, built for rugged conditions, are available with choices of capabilities – a fixed, Static camera and the Pan and Tilt camera.
They are a lower level cost and capability camera than the FLIR Voyager. The camera is designed to be mounted in one position. The choice can then be made to own the Static version which looks in one direction constantly or the Pan version which gives the operator, through a 19mm wide lens, the option of a 36 degree field of viewing. Both cameras offer vision in black and white only.
The Static version is an excellent night-time tool for navigating through difficult waterways and for security vision in a black area.
The Pan and Tilt version of the Navigator has the capabilities of panning through 360 degrees and tilting through 45 degrees. Using a remote control joy-stick, the operator can direct the camera around a wide view. With zoom capabilities the operator can also increase the image to twice its size.
Add on a second station with remote control and the operator has a very powerful onboard night navigation tool and a good security tool for intruder alert as the operator can move the camera around and see what is happening from any angle.
The Pan and Tilt version includes both black and white images, and a colour palette. Through the use of this palette different temperatures, in a variety of colours, can be displayed making it easier to distinguish one item from another. Setting up the colour palette is done through the menu selection on the unit’s keypad.
Both cameras provide clear thermal 320 x 240 pixel images. These images can also be seen on most chart plotters and monitors which accept standard video input.
The cameras are powerful. An object of 2.5 metres square and larger can be detected through the camera image from about 800 metres. The operator would then be able to recognise the object by about 250 metres and identify by at least 110 metres.
Both the Static and the Pan and Tilt cameras are compact units measuring about 19cm long by 10cm wide by 22cm high, and weighing under 4kg. They are easy to use – no training required.
Both cameras are competitively priced offering services comparable to similar, more expensive thermal imaging cameras on the market.
The Voyager
The Voyager camera is a significant step up from the Navigator in terms of capabilities and price. Like the Navigator, the Voyager can detect objects of as little as just over 2 square metres, but incredibly from as far away as 5km.
'The range is quite staggering. The clarity of the picture is fantastic,' says Briggs.
Objects can be detected in total darkness, through smoke, light fog and in extreme weather conditions. It is gyro-stabilised allowing for a steady image in any sea-state, full pan and tilt capabilities, and 360 degree rotation and 90 degree tilt.
The unit contains three cameras. There is the normal daylight camera with an infinite zoom and auto focus. Then there are two thermal imaging cameras. One has a 20 degree beam angle with auto focus. The other is a five degree focus angle giving a very high-resolution, detailed picture. Switching between the daylight and thermal imaging cameras is simply a matter of flicking a switch.
With the two thermal cameras within the unit, a wider field of view is possible. The two cameras can be put in the same viewing area and display a picture-in-picture view with crisp images.
'The Voyager features a completely new concept in image presentation based on the foveal vision of the human eye. Foveal vision allows the operator to enjoy a wide angle view for situational awareness while maintaining a high resolution area in the centre of the screen for object identification and tracking.
'The 20 degree will give you a wide situation view of what is going on around you where the five degree camera can be a small square in the middle of the screen giving you a high detailed picture for identification of specific areas.
'The third camera can only be used in broad daylight. It is a standard video camera with an infinite zoom which means you can zoom in on something four or 5kms away, like a pair of binoculars.'
The Voyager can detect an object from about 6km. The operator would then be able to recognise the object by about 1.6km and identify by at least 800 metres. The camera unit weighs 20.4kg. Its dimensions are 38.1cm diameter and 59cm high.
Images from the cameras are displayed at high resolution in 320 x 240 pixels on most existing multi-function displays which accept composite video inputs.
Suitable to be used in extreme conditions, the Voyager is encased in a rugged shell and can be operated in temperatures from -32C to +55C..Where the camera is used in very cold conditions, its built-in heater will defrost the protective window giving a clear lens and good quality images.
The applications for Voyager camera are similar to the Navigator – it gives the ability to see in the dark.
'The Voyager really just gives you a longer range in viewing distance and a steadier (gyro stabilised), more detailed picture. The Navigator runs out at 900m while the Voyager will go to over 5.5 nautical miles.'
The Voyager is perfect for cruise ships, super yachts and commercial ships. The camera can be used for safety and security, night time navigation, short and medium range threat detection such as intruders coming aboard, man overboard, anti-piracy, nav
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