A thermal camera is made up of a lens, a thermal sensor, that creates an image using infrared radiation that is like common cameras that forms an image using visible light.
The lens focuses infrared energy onto the sensor. The sensor comes in a variety of pixel configurations from 80 × 60 to 1280 × 1024 pixels or more.
Infrared cameras can reach up to 400-700 nanometre range of visible light. Images can be clicked in a dark environment as well.
The probable uses for thermal cameras are nearly limitless. Mainly such kinds of cameras are used for surveillance and military operations, but now, they are commonly used for building inspections (roofing, insulation, and moisture, etc.), scientific research, industrial inspections, skin temperature screening, autonomous vehicles, firefighting, and automatic braking, and much more.
An increasing need for continual and rigorous surveillance in the military is likely to provide an opportunity through these solutions for the use of the government. Governments around the world have installed drone cameras, which can cover around 100 kilometers of the area which helps them in various ways such as complex monitoring of situations.
As per research by ASTUTE Analytica, the global smart thermal camera market has become an industry of more than US$ 2 billion and is expected to grow at an approx. CAGR of 8.2% over the forecast period 2021-2027.
The thermal camera can see all those things which even a human eye cannot see but sometimes it can be hampered by disturbances.
Thermal Camera has Various Features Such As:
- Detection in total darkness: Thermal camera does not require additional lighting. Even in the total darkness, it clicks perfect image quality just like daytime.
- Temperature measurement and Alarm: They have temperature measurement potential which allows for the display of exact temperature information be it for the human body or for industrial application. The temperature measurement feature helps workers at a construction site or in any factory when objects reach temperatures above limit special algorithms included in thermal cameras allow you to extract accurate temperature information from an image.
- Performance in harsh environments: It performs much better under adverse conditions such as heavy rain, fog, and even at the hottest or coldest temperature.
- Long Range Detection: Infrared radiations coming out from the camera can be perceived over long distances. Cameras with an inbuilt 100mm lens have the capability to detect humans at distances of over 3km.
- Solar Power System: Solar panel helps in temperature monitoring and Solar panel evaluation to prevent overheating.
- Transportation Industry: Thermal Camera is widely used in the transportation industry as it provides Flow detection24 hour monitoring in all conditions.
- Inspection and Quarantine: Rapid body temperature screening can also be conducted via using such cameras through Efficient epidemic prevention and quarantine control.
- Fire Rescues: It Assists firefighters in quickly finding injured people through heavy smoke and finding fire sources. The researchers at ASTUTE Analytica even estimate that use of smart thermal cameras in security and surveillance application bring a tremendous boost in the market growth and will rise exponentially soon as well.
Smart Thermal Market is mainly driven by increasing application of thermal cameras in different industry verticals such as military & defense, healthcare, manufacturing, construction, Food & Beverage, etc.
Technological advances in the Internet of things (IoT) and machine learning have opened golden opportunities across industrial applications for such devices. Such advancements in thermal cameras have led to the placement of a wide variety of sensors to track environmental and physiological details.
Thermal imaging adopted in the healthcare industry has gained importance as one of the ideal methods to track physiological details such as skin temperature detection, assessment of human tumors, and many other niche areas.
The spread of the Covid-19 virus has led to the adoption of advanced technology and to develop and introduce newer ones has stemmed. Currently, the use of thermal imaging cameras is in focus as these devices enable detection of high body temperature in an individual and also it prevents from spreading as it does not require to be touched by the skin of people.
Drones installed with thermal imaging features are used to track the activity and body temperature of people in Wuhan, China. Companies are making continuous product innovations to manage the spread of coronavirus.
In the future high costs associating with such cameras can hinder the growth whereas cameras being used in the automotive (In testing applications) and Oil and Gas (Detect leakages) industry can be the driving factors for the global smart thermal camera market.
Companies are Adopting Various Strategical Moves to Cater Significant Share in the Smart Thermal Camera Industry. For Instance;
JUNE 2021
Product Launch: Teledyne FLIR LLC, a leading thermal imaging camera manufacturer based in the USA, has launched FLIR A500F and A700 ruggedized thermal cameras that feature high-temperature detection for the most challenging environments.
Among the A500f/A700f strengths are its enhanced spot, area, line, polygon, and polyline analysis, allowing it to define areas of interest and objects curves better to help companies protect assets and improve safety, maximize uptime, and minimize maintenance costs.
JANUARY 2021
Product Launch: Axis Communication AB has launched the Axis Q8752-E, a bispectral PTZ camera integrated with a thermal camera that offers 3x zoom for reliable detection and verification at all times and in any lighting conditions.
This proactive surveillance system is audio-ready and includes the motion guard, fence guard, and loitering guard of AXIS.
Lightfinder 2.0 and Forensic WDR provide saturated colors and sharp moving objects, even in challenging lighting conditions. In addition, it features advanced security capabilities to protect the system from unauthorized access.
APRIL 2021
Product Launch: Opgal Optronic Industry limited recently launched EyeCGAS Mini, an Optical Glass Imaging camera paired with an uncooled thermal camera.
An EyeCGas mini gas imaging camera offers various features, including live streaming for instant sharing, image fusion (visible and thermal cameras) for better leak detection, and embedded GPS. Additionally, the camera has thermography with a selection of color palettes, a battery life of more than five hours, and weighs just 600 grams (1.3 pounds).
The EyeCGas Mini is a device based on Android that allows for the rapid development of new features. It is easy for consumers to upgrade their devices so that they are always running the latest technology.
APRIL 2021
Product Launch: Flar Systems has introduced the radiometric version of the Boson thermal imaging camera module. Boson offers two versions of its radiometric camera core: with 640 x 512 resolution and 320 x 256 resolution with multiple lens configurations, as well as the ability to capture temperature data.
A calibration software feature evaluates how accurate the temperature measurement appears on the scene based on the Boson cameras’ radiometric accuracy up to 5 °C (8 °F). This feature, accessed through the Boson SDK or Boson graphical user interface (GUI), provides five confidence grades for in-the-moment temperature accuracy assessment.
Also, the Accuracy software feature allows users to set emissivity and thermal gain before the operation by enabling them to account for dynamic ambient temperatures. A drone, an automated vehicle, or the quick movements of unmanned aerial drones would not function properly without these functions.
Additionally, the software provides a variety of inspection and assessment features, including spot meters and windows that track temperature measurements in the scene that the camera focuses on and atmospheric correction capabilities when analyzing the post-processed data.