Project Overview

The next-gen FLIR ONE is a small and lightweight thermal imaging attachment that is compatible with either iOS or Android devices.
Every object or living thing emits or reflects heat (infrared) energy. The revolutionary micro thermal camera built into FLIR ONE has a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels and can detect infrared energy up to a distance of 100 meters.
This new flexible attachment weighs less than a third of the original and dramatically extends the limits of human vision to the infrared light spectrum and unlocks a host of practical applications for the consumer ranging from home improvement, outdoor adventure and personal safety.

Users can take photos or record video using thermal imaging and then share them via text, email, or social media through the improved FLIR ONE app. Additionally, developers can use the newly released FLIR ONE software developer kit to access absolute temperature data for all pixels and control the Lepton camera’s shutter mode, in both manual and automatic settings.

Organisation

FLIR Systems, Inc.

Project Brief

The ability to see the infrared light spectrum has revolutionized the work of modern military/ first responders. However, the high cost of thermal technology has kept it out of consumers’ hands until FLIR launched the FLIR ONE. This next generation FLIR ONE is compatible with Android or iOS devices. When connected to mobile devices via micro-USB (Android) or lightening connector (Apple), the attachment operates through the FLIR ONE app. The app displays live thermal images right on the phone’s screen, giving users the ability to see in various conditions including complete darkness, light fog and smoke. Using special sensor technology that was originally developed for military applications, FLIR ONE converts heat, which is emitted from every object on earth, into color images that allows users to not only see in the dark, but to observe differences in temperature of fractions of a degree. FLIR ONE has automatic tuning (no need to manually tune for optimum use) and its own dedicated battery source so it won’t drain power from the phone. It operates at 0°C to 35°C. Also features an enhanced scene temperature range of -20°C to 120°C, a 40°C increase in in range from the predecessor device.

Project Innovation/Need

For decades thermal imaging has redefine industries that require critical awareness and heightened perception. Now, FLIR ONE extends this technology to everyday consumers who can discover new and unforeseen uses due to Lepton, the world’s smallest thermal camera core that is less than the size of a dime.

Inside the attachment is FLIR’s upgraded revolutionary Lepton thermal camera core, which features 4x the resolution of the original. When combined with multi-spectral dynamic imaging (MSX), it dramatically increases a user’s ability to interpret a thermal image in real-world environments. MSX is a proprietary and patented technique that uses two cameras (visible camera next to thermal sensor) to enhance the image. This technology is additive in that no thermal information is lost, enhancing the perceived 640x480 resolution of the thermal image.

Until FLIR ONE, entry-level thermal imagers cost approximately $1,000. Now, the next-gen FLIR ONE places powerful thermal imaging technology into the hands of consumers at a fraction of the cost.

Design Challenge

At every step in the design process, the challenge was to build a lower cost thermal camera that didn’t sacrifice performance. FLIR has all of the critical technology vertically integrated. The sensor, readout IC, packaging, and the optic are all developed by FLIR and produced at its facilities.

The team was committed to making FLIR ONE as user-friendly as possible. FLIR ONE features multi-spectral dynamic imaging, or MSX®, a proprietary and patented technique to improve image quality.

In addition to Lepton, FLIR One contains a tiny visible light camera. MSX extracts edge detail from the visible image and embosses it onto the thermal image for greater resolution and clarity. It dramatically increases a user’s ability to interpret a thermal image in real-world environments by adding visible edge detail from its own visible light imager to a thermal image without sacrificing thermal detail.

Sustainability

The ability to pinpoint where heat is escaping through walls, windows and doors, FLIR ONE serves as a useful tool for energy efficiency audits in homes and buildings. Utilizing FLIR ONE to conduct these audits can help drastically reduce the amount of fossil fuels necessary to regulate building temperature in both cold and hot conditions. With the ability to see heat, customers will gain an appreciation for creating and maintaining more energy efficient homes and businesses.