insect camera. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Insect Camera

25.10.2004

German engineers have created a camera with a thickness of 400 microns. What if we put more than one lens into the camera, as in the human eye, but copy the structure of the insect eye and use many small lenses?

Thinking this way, the staff of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering created a faceted camera with a thickness of only 400 microns. Each photosensitive element is equipped with its own microlens.

The great advantage of the camera is that the field of view is not limited to a small lens diameter, but is distributed over a large area. Just like the compound eye of an insect, this camera does not provide a sharp image, but it can be useful for solving problems related to pattern recognition.

And there are many applications. For example, a plate camera attached to the dashboard of a car and connected to an on-board computer: it monitors where the driver’s eyes are directed, and if he looks away for too long, he warns of a dangerous situation with a sharp signal. The same camera is useful for a "smart" home, in which, say, the refrigerator door opens itself, obeying the owner's gaze and gives him a bottle of beer in his hand.

<< Back: Home warmth - almost for free 26.10.2004

>> Forward: Watches on belts instead of gears 23.10.2004

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Geospatial Intelligence 24.02.2021

In the United States, geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) is being created, which will monitor everything that happens on the territory of the country and opponents: from people and their movements to places and objects on the surface of the Earth.

In US government and military circles, they believe that the GEOINT system will help the country regain the technological superiority lost after the end of the Cold War and improve economic performance.

GEOINT includes all sorts of information about people, places and objects on the Earth's surface, and has a wide range of applications from mapping to mineral exploration and commercial logistics, but is especially valuable for military users seeking to understand the actions of potential adversaries.

But even today, according to Lauren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute, there is a threat that this project will not be carried out in the form in which its creators plan. This is due to the fact that foreign companies are investing in this project, which means that it will not be under the total control of the US government. For example, China is increasingly dominating supply chains, setting global technology standards, and gradually pushing American companies out of the market.

According to Thompson, the first step to revitalize the commercial segment of GEOINT in the US would be to update the regulatory policy to reflect current market conditions. Due to restrictions imposed by the US government to protect its national security, the economic benefits of GEOINT projects for US companies are in question.

By comparison, Chinese businesses sell high-resolution, short-term revisit images on the open market for comparatively less than what Americans might be able to do. Thompson believes that America cannot remain competitive in GEOINT or any other critical industry if its own regulatory policies are holding back innovation. And if its commercial capabilities cease to be competitive, the number of GEOINT providers in the US will continue to decline, and national security will certainly suffer.

As a second step, Thompson says, the government should use its massive purchasing power to prioritize local sources of commercial geospatial information whenever possible. US ISPs do not compete head to head with foreign competitors and it is unrealistic to expect them to compete successfully against offshore entities that are heavily subsidized by their governments. China is certainly a strong competitor in this regard, Thompson said.

In addition, the US intelligence community may be left without American technological products. It should never rely on intelligence infrastructure that is developed, built, operated, maintained, or hosted by other countries or by foreign-influenced companies. But if domestic suppliers cannot match their product offerings with offshore ones, then the intelligence community may simply have no choice.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews