Thermal imaging uses high-end sensors and electronics to detect the infrared electromagnetic energy radiated by just about everything. We sense this energy as heat. Small differences in the amount of heat from different objects allows these devices to paint a picture of the surroundings that looks kind of like a black and white negative. Several companies are now making products directed at the marine market. Aside from the ability to see other nearby vessels and objects through smoke, light fog and in the dark these devices are extremely well suited for spotting the heat signature of a crew member overboard.
The 12 volt ThermoVision Mariner is a powerful thermal imager for maritime navigation, search and rescue, and security applications. With thermal imaging, the Mariner gives navigators the ability to see in total darkness, through light fog, and smoke at a reasonable price. Unlike night vision scopes that require low amounts of light to provide an image, the ThermoVision Mariner system features the same thermal imaging technology used by the military. The Mariner makes navigation safer, by allowing you see obstructions, buoys, and other vessels at night, regardless of lighting conditions. The Mariner can also be used for search and rescue and security applications.
Neraida makes the 24 volt Nerin3R Enhanced Vision System imaging sensor which, like most devices in this class, can output to anything that will accept a standard NTSC video signal. image:
D&B Technology Group, Inc. makes the Hoteye line of infrared devices for the marine market.
A handy improvement to these mounted-camera designs would be for them to optionally eliminate the cabling between camera and display in favor of a wireless connection.
The dedicated marine systems are expensive and require mounting, installation, wiring and a means of display such as a TV monitor, LCD Panel, or a computer or chartplotter that accepts an external video signal (although some products come with their own displays).
If you want a simpler solution, which you can take ashore for fun in the dark, go with a handheld thermal imaging camera. Note that these are not the same as 'nightvision' scopes, which use a source of infrared light to illuminate the nearby scene which is then picked up by a low end sensor. These don't have as much range nor do they work as well in fog and haze.
A true thermal imaging camera detects the infrared energy emitted by the environment and requires no source of illumination. This makes these devices just as spendy as the dedicated marine systems but you get the additional flexibility and security of being able take it with you when moving around in the cockpit or on deck or when leaving the boat.
ATN Corp makes a five inch long handheld, the Thermal-Eye X100xp, that retails for around $6,500.
If I was looking for a crewmember overboard I would want to use one of these handheld that I could quickly point in any direction rather than use a joystick to drive a gimballed unit likely mounted on the pointy end of the boat or on the mast.
"Infrared Thermal Imaging"
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