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Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

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Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#4
This phone has been out since Spring 2022. Any reason for the post?

If we want to talk about the utility of a thermal camera, I found it neat. I used a $150 Seek camera to diagnose poor insulation in my bedroom, and one contractor even offered free advice over email since the images were clear enough. I've also used it to find hot ICs on a PCB. The resolution of these lower cost modules isn't great, which you can see by all the postprocessing they advertise. But it's enough to see which wall is leaky, or which IC needs a heatsink.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#5
Saw it on LinusTechTips and had to pause the video for a moment, thats a very very useful feature, not much else to add. The phone is certainly being targeted towards professionals which at least from me takes the shine away to a degree, as the features I would love to go along with it such as AI assisted night vision or the 3.5mm audio jack won't be in it

It is certainly on my radar wherever my current phone finally kicks the bucket so to speak

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#6
post #3

No mention about thermal camera resolution, even in the "Full Tech Specs". Although it does mention it's using FLIR Lepton 3.5 sensor. Seems to be 9 fps at 160x120. [0] [0]: https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/f/flir/lepton-3...

9 fps is because if the framerate is any higher it would be subject to ITAR export controls, that's going to be a limit you find on any similar cameras

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#7
post #3

No mention about thermal camera resolution, even in the "Full Tech Specs". Although it does mention it's using FLIR Lepton 3.5 sensor. Seems to be 9 fps at 160x120. [0] [0]: https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/f/flir/lepton-3...

9 fps is because if the framerate is any higher it would be subject to ITAR export controls, that's going to be a limit you find on any similar cameras

Does ITAR present an impediment even if it’s manufactured and sold in the US?

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#10
post #3

No mention about thermal camera resolution, even in the "Full Tech Specs". Although it does mention it's using FLIR Lepton 3.5 sensor. Seems to be 9 fps at 160x120. [0] [0]: https://www.digikey.com/en/product-highlight/f/flir/lepton-3...

IR cameras tend to be very low-res (or very expensive). Looks like they have some kind of computational photography pipeline processing, to enhance the IR image.

You can get FLIR modules for most smartphones (Android and iOS). Not sure I'd buy a phone, just for the camera.

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