Drones have been captivating us for years. They now come in all shapes and sizes and we just can't seem to get enough of them. We love flying the consumer models and learning about the large commercial and military grade versions. When video cameras were added they became not only more popular but much more useful, especially for business applications. For companies like realtors and insurance companies, and even for police departments, video equipped drones have made many jobs easier. The folks at FLIR realized that adding thermal imaging into the mix could increase effectiveness in many ways.
These highly cooled cameras that are super sensitive to any thermal radiation and can take regular video to a whole new level. Large scale equipment can be inspected easily to see if either heat or cold is escaping, and they can also be used at night for various search and rescue situations. The FLIR DUO is a compact, lightweight, dual-sensor thermal and visible light imager that is designed for drones. It has the same size and shape as the most popular action cameras for easy adaptation to existing drone accessories. Duo's features include on-board recording and real-time remote control of camera functions over PWM - plus MSX multi-spectral imaging enhancement. There is also a second model called the FLIR DUO R which comes with a fully radiometric variant and delivers accurate, calibrated temperature measurements in every pixel.
Both models can be operated either separately or on a drone and power up through the USB port. And the mobile app and built in Bluetooth make setup a breeze. They are great units for drone manufacturers to add into their lineups and are also the perfect way for consumers to start playing with thermal imaging on their own drones.
Both versions are available now with prices starting at $999.99 from the FLIR website. Also, don't forget to check out some of their other great products on Amazon.
Interview by Scott Ertz of F5 Live: Refreshing Technology for the Tech Podcast Network.
Scott is a developer who has worked on projects of varying sizes, including all of the PLUGHITZ Corporation properties. He is also known in the gaming world for his time supporting the rhythm game community, through DDRLover and hosting tournaments throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Currently, when he is not working on software projects or hosting F5 Live: Refreshing Technology, Scott can often be found returning to his high school days working with the Foundation for Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), mentoring teams and helping with ROBOTICON Tampa Bay. He has also helped found a student software learning group, the ASCII Warriors, currently housed at AMRoC Fab Lab.