Lower Prices Paving The Way For Wider Use Of Thermal Imaging Core

20161008We use that Thermal Imaging Core in its own cameras – and it will also be used by other thermal imaging suppliers in the market. Having multiple suppliers selling thermal cameras in the space builds awareness and overall credibility for the technology.

According to the mantra “infrared everywhere” and promotes use of infrared imaging not just in security but in a range of markets, from building inspection cameras to radiation detectors to automobiles. We see a time when every consumer security camera will have a thermal image element in it, complementing the capabilities of the visible light sensor. A key element of “infrared everywhere” is widespread thermal camera usage (and the resulting greater awareness) in the consumer space. Mass availability of lower-cost thermal imaging products in the consumer market provides a basis for greater usage in other markets, including commercial security applications. If consumers better understand the value proposition of thermal, it paves the way for usage at all levels of the market.

Thermal Imaging Core does a good job of sensing animals, or people or water, all of which show up well because of temperature differences

Given the lower pricing, we list three specific “mainstream” security markets where thermal imaging can have the greatest impact:

Outdoor perimeter security. False alarms have historically been a big problem for video motion detection and video analytics applications deployed outdoors at a facility’s perimeter. Rain, snow and other obscurants can make it difficult to get a usable data feed for video analytics from visible cameras, which also cannot see in the darkness. Infrared illuminators are essentially useless in rain or snow. In contrast, lower-cost thermal cameras provide true 24/7 capabilities, and thermal images are not plagued by variables that can cause excessive false alarms in systems that use visible light.

Thermal images are not plagued by variables causing excessive false alarms in systems that use visible light

Indoor applications. Light variations are also a problem indoors, but thermal cameras provide images that reliably show the presence of people in any lighting situation. Temperature-sensing aspects of thermal imaging also make it easy detect a water leak or pre-emergent fire.

Building systems. Thermal imaging makes it easy to count the number of people in a room no matter what the lighting conditions, which can provide a valuable data feed into HVAC systems or lighting controls.

Use of thermal imaging eliminates a lot of the variables that have discouraged greater usage of video analytics, such as light level changes, shadows, and things rustling in the breeze. Thermal data feeds provide a much better platform for effective use of video analytics, making video analytics “truly useful and reliable,” Extraneous elements do not show up on a thermal image, which is based on differences in temperature among elements in a scene. Thermal imaging also makes it easy to separate things like people (which have a different temperature) from a background. Thermal does a good job of sensing animals, or people or water, all of which show up well because of temperature differences.

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