Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera • Hacker News Board

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#21

Post by harry8 » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:43 AM UTC

I've had the competition's ruggedized android phone with a flir camera for a couple of years now? [1]

[1] https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001227941445.html

I don't love it like I did the nokia n900 but it is decent. It's an android that goes underwater, can take photos there and you can drop without being worried about breaking it including the screen - all phones should be like that.

The flir camera pics look just like that, haven't really found a use for it yet but I guess I might one day. The endoscope is also a cool idea that hasn't really worked out so well when I've wanted to use it. It works it just an endoscope frequently isn't as useful as you'd hope it could be.

Like every single android phone vendor they really need to get out of the business of providing the OS and set it up as a community project so it works the way you want and has upgrades if you want. Not that Apple, controlling everything, are better at this iphone6 now junk etc.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#22

Post by whacked_new » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:43 AM UTC

tildef wrote: post #11

I used the S62 as a daily driver for a couple of years and it was fairly decent. The convenience of having a thermal camera in your pocket at all times was remarkable, and it's one of those things you kind of miss when it's gone (my daily use for it was checking if the coffee was cool enough to drink--yes, I know my tasting organs provide much of the same functionality...) However, the resolution of the thermal camer…

I've been using a BlackView 9900 Pro for over a year, and attest to the surprising usefulness of the built-in thermal camera, such as checking how well food is heated after microwaving, or even watching the heat distribution of rolling, boiled water.

My phone's battery is degraded now and I'm dreading a switch to something else. I've eyed the S62 but don't think it's an upgrade.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#23

Post by Sporktacular » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:44 AM UTC

mwint wrote: post #7

wlesieutre wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

It only is an impediment if it is made in the US. There are high frame rate sensors sold openly abroad.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#24

Post by banana_giraffe » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:45 AM UTC

CyanBird wrote: post #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…

In case others are interested, here's the video:

https://youtu.be/QoC8R3KHk8E?t=403

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#25

Post by Sporktacular » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:45 AM UTC

wlesieutre wrote: post #6

vardump wrote: 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

Only in the US. Doesn't apply to these guys for example www.infiray.com

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#26

Post by fisherjeff » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:46 AM UTC

Manuel_D wrote: post #15

I wonder what the performance will be with such a small sensor and aperture. Usually FLIR scopes have massive apertures to collect as much light as possible. Medium wave infrared signals are extremely weak compared to visual light, and so sensors either have to be cryogenically cooled to allow for large gain with little noise or a large aperture to collect enough light. Or better yet, both.

This is LWIR and it’s probably pretty low f-number (guessing f/1) but super short FL so doesn’t need all that large of an aperture.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#27

Post by fomine3 » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:49 AM UTC

I want a second phone with FLIR for fun and profit, but I don't want a heavy duty like existing Ulefone one. Maybe it's better to buy a external USB FLIR.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#28

Post by emusan » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:50 AM UTC

teruakohatu wrote: post #2

These niche phones never fail to run old versions of Android. This phone runs Android 11, which was released October 4, 2021. Android 13 was released 15 August 2022.

I owned the first CAT phone with a FLiR thermal imaging sensor and this was by far my biggest gripe. The hardware felt like it was built to last a decade or longer, but the software was chock full of vulnerabilities from day 1, and I think they only provided a few months of proper software updates. I have since (reluctantly) moved to iPhone where I expect that (with my usage) the software should outlast the hardware.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#29

Post by tildef » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:51 AM UTC

whacked_new wrote: post #22

tildef wrote: post #11

I used the S62 as a daily driver for a couple of years and it was fairly decent. The convenience of having a thermal camera in your pocket at all times was remarkable, and it's one of those things you kind of miss when it's gone (my daily use for it was checking if the coffee was cool enough to drink--yes, I know my tasting organs provide much of the same functionality...) However, the resolution of the thermal camer…

I've been using a BlackView 9900 Pro for over a year, and attest to the surprising usefulness of the built-in thermal camera, such as checking how well food is heated after microwaving, or even watching the heat distribution of rolling, boiled water. My phone's battery is degraded now and I'm dreading a switch to something else. I've eyed the S62 but don't think it's an upgrade.

Agreed. I'd hold off a bit if I were you, unless your current battery is completely busted. Might even be worth seeing if you can replace the battery. The S62 is over 2 years old, and considering Cat hasn't updated it past Android 11, they may have something new on the horizon--unless they plan to exit the phone market entirely, of course, which I guess is also a possibility.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#30

Post by anigbrowl » Wed, Dec 07, 2022, 1:54 AM UTC

whacked_new wrote: post #22

tildef wrote: post #11

I used the S62 as a daily driver for a couple of years and it was fairly decent. The convenience of having a thermal camera in your pocket at all times was remarkable, and it's one of those things you kind of miss when it's gone (my daily use for it was checking if the coffee was cool enough to drink--yes, I know my tasting organs provide much of the same functionality...) However, the resolution of the thermal camer…

I've been using a BlackView 9900 Pro for over a year, and attest to the surprising usefulness of the built-in thermal camera, such as checking how well food is heated after microwaving, or even watching the heat distribution of rolling, boiled water. My phone's battery is degraded now and I'm dreading a switch to something else. I've eyed the S62 but don't think it's an upgrade.

I'm confused, why not just replace the battery? They're available and if you're not good with fiddly disassembly jobs you can probably find someone to do it relatively cheaply.