Darpa has the company Raytheon commissioned within the Low Cost Thermal Imaging Manufacturing program to create technology that allows thermal imaging cameras for use in smartphones can be produced.
The LCTI-M program has as its purpose, to thermal cameras in such a way to reduce and cheap to make that they by every soldier on the battlefield can be used to give a better view of the surroundings and possible threats.
Raytheon has in the framework of this program awarded a contract to develop technology for the large-scale production of thermal beeldsensormodules on wafers. As a result, the production costs for such sensors, infrared waves can detect, with a ninety percent decrease. Should also sensor modules that can be incorporated into mobile platforms, such as smartphones.
The small thermal image sensors are also intended for use in helmet-mounted displays and viewers for guns. Apart from better communication between soldiers, that should be a better situational awareness for the armed forces produce.
Current thermal cameras are still relatively large, expensive and heavy, but with the LCTI-M program, that will change. The ir-image sensors that Darpa has in mind, would a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels and a viewing angle of 40 degrees, 500mW consume less than 500 dollars per piece costs. With the three-year contract, Raytheon is 13.4 million dollars involved.
