Articles tagged with "thermal-imaging"
Here’s how thermal camera armed drones and AI protect the power grid
The article discusses how Buzz Solutions, led by co-founder and CTO Vikhyat Chaudhry, is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and thermal imaging to revolutionize the inspection and maintenance of power grid infrastructure. Traditional thermal inspections, which relied on handheld cameras and manual fieldwork, have become inefficient and costly due to the expanding scale of electrical networks. Drones equipped with thermal and visual sensors now collect vast amounts of data more efficiently, but utilities faced challenges managing and interpreting millions of images annually. To address this, Buzz Solutions integrates AI to analyze the data, enabling earlier fault detection, improved operational efficiency, and reduced risks such as wildfires. A key technological advancement highlighted is the fusion of conventional RGB imagery with radiometric thermal data. While thermal cameras alone indicate heat signatures without identifying specific components, combining thermal data with computer vision allows precise identification of equipment like transformers and insulators. This fusion enhances accuracy by isolating thermal readings to relevant components, preventing false alarms caused by unrelated heat sources.
energydronesartificial-intelligencethermal-imagingpower-gridcomputer-visioninfrastructure-maintenancePhotos: World-first drone with AI sight helps first responders see through fog, rain
Chinese drone manufacturer GDU introduced the UAV-P300 at CES 2026, marketing it as the world’s first AI-powered drone capable of penetrating fog and rain to enhance visibility for first responders and other professional users. The UAV-P300 improves image clarity by up to 50 percent in poor weather conditions and supports operations in smoke, fog, or rain that typically ground drones. It features a 50-megapixel wide-angle sensor, advanced starlight night vision, full-color 4K night imaging, and an IRCut switch with near-infrared illumination, enabling effective use from daylight through complete darkness. Its imaging capabilities are complemented by an 11x optical zoom and up to 176x hybrid zoom stabilized by a gimbal, allowing detailed observation from a safe distance. The drone also incorporates an AI-enhanced thermal imaging module for detecting heat sources and movement, aiding search and rescue and infrastructure monitoring. Navigation is supported by LIDAR and AI obstacle recognition for safe flight in dense urban
robotAIdroneautonomous-flightsmart-citythermal-imagingLIDARSauron, the high-end home security startup for “super premium” customers, plucks a new CEO out of Sonos
Sauron is a high-end home security startup founded in 2024 by Kevin Hartz and Jack Abraham, motivated by their personal frustrations with existing security systems. The company raised $18 million from notable investors including executives from Flock Safety, Palantir, and defense tech firms. Sauron aims to offer a sophisticated security solution combining AI-driven intelligence, advanced sensors such as LiDAR and thermal imaging, and 24/7 human monitoring by former military and law enforcement personnel. Initially planning to launch in early 2025, the company remains in development with a revised product release timeline now projected for late 2026 or later. Recently appointed CEO Maxime “Max” Bouvat-Merlin, formerly of Sonos, is focused on defining key product components and strategy, including sensor selection and the deterrence system’s operation. He draws parallels between Sauron and Sonos in targeting affluent customers, relying on word-of-mouth growth, and integrating complex hardware with advanced software.
IoTsmart-home-securityAI-driven-sensorsLiDAR-technologythermal-imaginghome-automationsecurity-startupsPhotos: New rugged phone stays on during battery hot-swaps for nonstop use
The RugOne Xever 7 Pro is a rugged smartphone designed for continuous use in remote or demanding environments, featuring a unique hot-swappable 5,550-mAh battery system. This system includes a built-in buffer battery that keeps the phone powered for up to three minutes during battery changes, allowing users to replace batteries without shutting down the device or closing apps. The phone comes with a spare battery, a 33-W wall charger, an extra sealed back plate, and a case for the spare battery, emphasizing its focus on extended, uninterrupted operation. Built for harsh conditions, the Xever 7 Pro boasts IP68/IP69K dust and water resistance, MIL-STD-810H drop protection, and can survive falls from up to two meters. It integrates advanced imaging tools including a FLIR Lepton 3.5 thermal camera for heat signature visualization and a 64-megapixel night vision camera with infrared LEDs for detailed low-light photography. The device also features a 50-me
energybattery-technologyrugged-devicesthermal-imagingmodular-chargingportable-powerindustrial-toolsGecko Robotics releases StratoSight drone-based roof inspection system - The Robot Report
Gecko Robotics, in partnership with NAES Corp., has launched StratoSight, a drone-based roof inspection system aimed at commercial rooftops. This marks Gecko Robotics’ first venture into aerial inspections, expanding beyond its initial focus on automating boiler inspections. StratoSight uses off-the-shelf drones equipped with custom payloads that capture high-definition photogrammetry and thermography data to detect early signs of roof degradation such as thermal loss, water intrusion, and structural shifts. The system aims to address the significant challenges and dangers associated with manual roof inspections, which are not only risky for personnel but also prone to missing up to 50% of critical issues. A key differentiator of StratoSight is its end-to-end approach that integrates robotics, software, and human expertise to optimize data collection and interpretation. The system processes most of the data in the cloud, enabling automated defect detection and timely delivery of actionable insights to customers. This contrasts with traditional manual inspections that typically produce lengthy reports with limited practical
roboticsdrone-technologyroof-inspectionautomationthermal-imagingphotogrammetrydata-analyticsPhysicists see heat move as a wave after 90 years of theory
Physicists at MIT have, for the first time, directly observed and filmed the quantum phenomenon known as "second sound," a theory predicted in 1938 but never before visually confirmed. Unlike normal heat diffusion, second sound occurs in superfluid states where heat propagates as a wave, similar to sound, with the surrounding fluid remaining stationary. The team overcame significant experimental challenges by cooling gases to near absolute zero and using lithium-6 atoms, whose resonance frequency shifts with temperature, allowing them to track heat movement via radio wave-induced resonance. This breakthrough enabled real-time visualization of heat waves in a superfluid, marking a major advance in studying quantum states of matter. The ability to observe second sound has important scientific and technological implications. It offers new insights into extreme states of matter such as those found in neutron stars, potentially improving astrophysical models. On Earth, the findings could advance research into high-temperature superconductors, which are crucial for energy-efficient technologies like lossless power transmission and magnetic levitation.
energyquantum-physicssuperfluidityheat-transfersuperconductivitythermal-imagingMIT-researchUS scientists develop real-time defect detection for 3D metal printing
Scientists from Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Virginia have developed a novel method to detect defects, specifically keyhole pores, in metal parts produced by 3D printing using laser powder bed fusion. Keyhole pores are tiny internal cavities formed when excessive laser energy creates deep, narrow holes that trap gas, compromising the structural integrity and performance of critical components such as aerospace parts and medical implants. The new approach combines thermal imaging, X-ray imaging, and machine learning to predict pore formation in real-time by correlating surface heat patterns with internal defects captured via powerful X-rays. This method leverages existing thermal cameras already installed on many 3D printers, enabling instant detection of internal flaws without the need for continuous expensive X-ray imaging. The AI model, trained on synchronized thermal and X-ray data, can identify pore formation within milliseconds, allowing for immediate intervention. Researchers envision integrating this technology with automatic correction systems that adjust printing parameters or reprint layers on the fly, thereby improving reliability, reducing waste, and enhancing safety in manufacturing mission-critical metal parts. Future work aims to expand defect detection capabilities and develop repair mechanisms during the additive manufacturing process.
3D-printingmetal-additive-manufacturingdefect-detectionmachine-learningthermal-imagingX-ray-imagingmaterials-scienceFastest-ever robot 3D scanner sees transparent objects in 1.5 seconds
robot3D-scanningthermal-imagingautomationindustrial-roboticsadvanced-manufacturingAI-analysis