Digital Night Vision Cameras (Zero Lux) - Are they possible yet?

[LimitedPowers]

After watching Joshua Bardwell and others fly FPV with Caddx Infra camera systems, I'm dedicating my next build to support infrared video and a small 850 nm spotlight. It's an amazing updrade that I think will add immense value to a drone. Does anyone know if the newer digital VTX systems (Walksnail, HDzero, etc) can support thermal or infrared cams yet? There's some really cool analog ones out there for obtainable prices but if a digital VTX can be adapted to support analog cams or if a digital version exists I'm interested. I can't seem to find any by searching. Is it even possible to convert an analog drone cam into a format that will work with a digital VTX?

Added this later after chatting with Grok: Analog Video to MIPI converter

See pic related. This looks promising. Is it really going to be compatible with Drone MIPI connectors?

 

[Cafguy]

You can get thermals for the Walksnail avatar system It takes some doing tho. certainly not plug and play.

 

[Recoveryone]

Night vision and thermal are not the same, so the requirements are different

 

[LimitedPowers]

I'm much more interested in the Infrared night vision, specifically the Caddx Infra V2. It's affordable and seems an easier project. Since chips exist that can perform the conversion and there seems to be a path to convert analog video to MIPI, I'm curious to see if this bridge can be found.

@Recoveryone: Can you explain what some of these differences are? Analog thermal cams do exist but the idea is to adapt analog cameras to MIPI. Here's a good example of a PAL Thermal cam that is in the price and performance range: 640x512 Drone Thermal Cam CVBS

 

[Cafguy]

Have you checked out the OpenIPC page on facebook?

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[Recoveryone]

I'm much more interested in the Infrared night vision, specifically the Caddx Infra V2. It's affordable and seems an easier project. Since chips exist that can perform the conversion and there seems to be a path to convert analog video to MIPI, I'm curious to see if this bridge can be found.

@Recoveryone: Can you explain what some of these differences are? Analog thermal cams do exist but the idea is to adapt analog cameras to MIPI. Here's a good example of a PAL Thermal cam that is in the price and performance range: 640x512 Drone Thermal Cam CVBS

Here are some specifications for night vision cameras:

• Image Tubes: Commonly used are ITT and Elbit Systems, with specifications like 1600 FOM (64 resolution), 25 signal-to-noise ratio, and photocathode sensitivity of 2000.
  
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• Detection: Night vision devices can detect visible light, infrared light, or both, with image intensification devices amplifying visible and near-IR light.
  
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• Color Night Vision: Some cameras use integrated spotlights or starlight sensors to enhance color night vision, capturing clear images even in low-light conditions.
  
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• Field of View: Most cameras have a field of view between 120° and 180°, with some models offering ultra-wide views.
  
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• Environmental Conditions: Night vision cameras perform well in various weather conditions, with some models capable of operating in conditions as low as 0.01 lux.
  
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  These specifications can vary by manufacturer and model, so it's essential to check the specific product details for accurate performance metrics.

Thermal cameras are equipped with various specifications that determine their performance and suitability for different applications. Here are some key specifications to consider when evaluating thermal camera options:

• Detection Range: The maximum distance at which an object can be detected, based on the Johnson Criteria. This is crucial for determining the camera's range in various conditions.
  
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• Resolution: The clarity of the thermal image, determined by the size of the detector array. Higher resolution means more detail in the thermal image.
  
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• Sensitivity: The camera's ability to detect temperature differences, which is essential for identifying subtle heat signatures.
  
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• Spectral Range: The range of infrared radiation the camera can detect, which is important for applications that require accurate temperature measurement.
  
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• Image Processing: The camera's ability to process the infrared data into a visual image, which can include features like digital zoom or image fusion for enhanced analysis.
  
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  These specifications are essential for selecting a thermal camera that meets the specific needs of the user, whether for security, wildlife monitoring, or industrial inspections.
  
  

 

[junnis]

I doubt that adapter would actually be what you want. Ceck neutronrc for either their HDMI to DJI vista or 4 channel analog to vista adapters.
For more info check YouTube for catch22mania. He compares lots of night cams and made a fpv thermal camera adapter project using a USB thermal camera and a ras pi 2w with that neutron rc HDMI adapter. That was an impressively cheap thermal camera with high frame rate and decent resolution.
He also has videos flying with night cams then switching to thermals so you can see what you want. (Its not thermals only if it's not super expensive, but switching back and forth can be great) And you can always run 2 video links, one for ir cam and one for thermal.
Other than that you're looking at expensive thermal cams that do analog or caddx infra.

 

[junnis]

I doubt that adapter would actually be what you want. Ceck neutronrc for either their HDMI to DJI vista or 4 channel analog to vista adapters.
For more info check YouTube for catch22mania. He compares lots of night cams and made a fpv thermal camera adapter project using a USB thermal camera and a ras pi 2w with that neutron rc HDMI adapter. That was an impressively cheap thermal camera with high frame rate and decent resolution.
He also has videos flying with night cams then switching to thermals so you can see what you want. (Its not thermals only if it's not super expensive, but switching back and forth can be great) And you can always run 2 video links, one for ir cam and one for thermal.
Other than that you're looking at expensive thermal cams that do analog or caddx infra.

And there's the night eagle hd for vista. Sadly there's nothing for djI O3 or o4.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Check out the Matrice 4T. It is capable of seeing in pitch dark, using the illumination from IR that is invisible to the human eye (NIR), so no red glow coming from the camera illuminators.

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Introducing the DJI Matrice 4 Series, a new compact and intelligent multi-sensor flagship drone series for enterprise industries. The series includes Matrice 4T and Matrice 4E, each equipped with advanced features such as smart detection and measurement with laser range finder. Flight operations...

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