According to a report byInformationWeek, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking proposals for its Low Cost Thermal Imager Manufacturing (LCTI-M) program, which plans to develop inexpensive thermal cameras that can be used by military personnel in the field. The agency posted a request for proposals (RFP) that indicates soldiers would use the infrared (IR) cameras to increase their visibility at short distances in all weather conditions.
DARPA is planning to create wafer-scale optics that can be mass-produced, which would address two of its key challenges in developing themilitary imaging devices: size and cost. Image quality must be high, with the cameras being able to detect “an upright, stationary adult human being” at close range and whether there is a weapon present that poses a threat, according to the agency’s RFP. The RFP notes that firms have until March 9, 2011 to respond in regard to the LCTI-M program.
SOURCE: E. Montalbano,InformationWeek, Jan. 26, 2010
-- Posted byVision Systems Design
