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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

#51

Post by tootie »

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 did a project a while back with devices like these. Super rugged shell, giant battery and, in this case, a powerful IR barcode scanner. We built custom apps for warehouse workers and shut access to anything remotely fun. No mobile data or calling allowed, no internet except one hardwired wifi network that talks to shipping systems. Having an old OS is fine because they don't need to be compatible with much and security isn't a big deal because they're so locked down.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#52

Post by rodgerd »

Gigachad wrote: post #39
lathiat wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Using a thermal camera in the kitchen is under-rated. I sometimes do the same. Was inspired by this old linux.conf.au talk (that I attended in person) about a microwave with a thermal camera in the top. I would love the same above my kitchen stove: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3DADx5z-XY I'm a die-hard iPhone user so sadly a built-in won't work for me. I currently have a first generation Lightning FLIR One. It's…

You can buy a stove that uses probes to monitor the temps and hold/stick to a preset program https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/commercial/cmc850.ht... I can't wait for these to become more mainstream so recipes start listing "Set stove to 150c" rather than "to medium" which is widely different depending on what stove you use. An amusing story one youtuber shared was the followed some advice that said to set you…

Some induction tops have similar functionality - measuring the temperature of the pan and keeping at that temperature. It's not as precise as a probe, of course, but it's extremely convenient and useful.

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#54

Post by firecall »

chrismorgan wrote: post #50
andrewia wrote: post #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…

> Spring 2022 That was last week. (Seasons are a lousy way of describing times for anything other than local, geographically-anchored content. They’re only meaningful in a comparatively narrow band, falling apart if you head much towards the poles or equator—the four seasons model is useless in tropical areas especially—and inverting if you head to the other side of the equator.)

Indeed.

Our friends in the USA often assume the people they are talking to are only in the USA!

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#55

Post by LWIRVoltage »

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?

You can't take it out of country without an export license- Someone else will have to comment on the process of doing that so they can take their camera on vacation or something

I've had to navigate that and make use of listed exemptions to that, for sending thermal cameras i bought from israel- BACK to israel for repair- because of ITAR.

Other than that, you can do what you want in-country with a high quality thermal-and the US can import others who make stuff that high quality, without issues

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#56

Post by mc32 »

ShakataGaNai wrote: post #32

You can get FLIR One cameras with Lightning and USB-C (for iPhone and Android respectively) for $300. https://www.amazon.com/FLIR-ONE-Thermal-Imaging-Camera/dp/B0... It isn't as good as the FLIR on the Cat phone, but if you're one of those people going "Man, having a FLIR around the house would be cool" - this is the solution for you. And it will outlive your phone...so long as you don't change "sides" in the OS Wars…

There is also the solution from Klein Tools which may use (not sure) Flir sensors...

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#57

Post by LWIRVoltage »

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.

Someone else already pointed out this is LWIR, not Mid wave(I look forward to the day we get cheap MWIR cameras! We'll be able to see heat trails behind jets- and gasses like no tomorrow- you tend to see through 95% of the with LWIR)

But large apertures? Are you thinking of the longer wavelength? For near infrared, this is a thing- and other night optics....and things like NVGs which use Near infrared

But, this isn't ...a thing for MWIR/LWIR, and not necessarily for SWIR either

The reason not ALL thermals have to be cryogenically cooled- is microbolometers - that's the key.

- I own a bunch of uncooled LWIR cameras, that i use- and NVGs as well

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#59

Post by userbinator »

asddubs wrote: post #49
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…

the 9 FPS I believe are because US manufacturers aren't allowed to export thermal cameras above 9 FPS

ITAR

Re: Caterpillar offers phone with built-in FLIR camera

#60

Post by lathiat »

rodgerd wrote: post #52
Gigachad wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can buy a stove that uses probes to monitor the temps and hold/stick to a preset program https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/commercial/cmc850.ht... I can't wait for these to become more mainstream so recipes start listing "Set stove to 150c" rather than "to medium" which is widely different depending on what stove you use. An amusing story one youtuber shared was the followed some advice that said to set you…

Some induction tops have similar functionality - measuring the temperature of the pan and keeping at that temperature. It's not as precise as a probe, of course, but it's extremely convenient and useful.

Particularly useful for "fast heat-up" combined with "don't fry the pan"
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