A team of researchers at Tokyo Tech has designed a flexible and free-standing terahertz sensor array that can image irregularly shaped objects. The camera patch sheet can be easily cut into smaller sensors for better coverage, showcasing its potential in industrial applications such as quality control operations.
SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateFeb 16, 2021
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a low-cost method for soft robots to detect human touch without relying on physical contact. The ShadowSense technology uses a USB camera to capture shadow movements of hand gestures on the robot's skin, classifying them with machine-learning software.
Researchers have created an angle-insensitive 3D-printed miniature spectrometer that can be fabricated directly on a miniature image sensor. This innovation enables complex measurement systems in medical engineering and precision farming, with potential applications in hyperspectral imaging.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateFeb 8, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.
A hybrid approach combining hardware- and computer vision-based tracking improves the accuracy of laparoscopic ultrasound imaging. By using a custom tracking mount with EM sensors and CV markers, the system can track the transducer's pose with high accuracy.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Medical Imaging·DateFeb 4, 2021
Researchers developed a novel camera-based system for automated drone landing using 2D symbol detection, allowing drones to safely land on uneven terrain. The system consists of a commercial flight controller, Raspberry Pi module, and image-processing algorithm that detects a distinctive landing symbol in real-time.
SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Access·DateJan 21, 2021
Researchers have discovered a method to produce silicon at room temperature using electrical currents instead of extreme heat, which could slash energy use and cost in the industry. This technique replaces thermochemical processes with electrochemical processes, converting clean electricity into chemical energy.
SourceCurtin University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 20, 2021
Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a solution to stabilize drones when one motor fails, using onboard camera information. The team equipped quadcopters with standard and event cameras, which enable the drone to estimate its position in space despite high-speed rotation. This innovation improves flight safety in area...
SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateJan 13, 2021
The new approach uses dynamic LED lighting to create 3D images without requiring complex synchronization. The researchers achieved a reconstruction error of just 2.6 millimeters using a smartphone and commercially available LEDs.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a system to analyze real-time visual data from millions of network cameras, providing insights into consumer behavior, economic impacts and misinformation in news media. The technology may help reduce false information and validate facts, enabling safer journalism.
Researchers developed an assay that detects SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs using a smartphone camera, providing quick results within 30 minutes. The test utilizes CRISPR-Cas technology, eliminating the need for amplification and enabling precise quantification of virus amounts.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new sensing method using deep learning and a structure-aware temporal bilateral filter. The system can track complex motions with higher accuracy, enabling applications such as tracking small animal movements, fluid flow, and virtual reality finger movements.
SourceTohoku University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics·DateNov 27, 2020
Researchers exploring the nature of AI failures reveal 'adversarial examples' may not be intentional mistakes. Instead, they might be 'artifacts' created by interactions between network and data patterns. This rethink suggests that misfires could offer useful information if interpreted correctly.
SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·DateNov 23, 2020
Researchers created airflow videos showing how exhalation valves on masks defeat the purpose of slowing COVID-19 spread. The videos, published in Physics of Fluids, demonstrate that air can leave masks unfiltered through valves, reducing mask effectiveness.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateNov 10, 2020
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.
A research team at FAU has developed an intelligent camera that achieves high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution. The camera can precisely determine material properties and depth, opening up new applications in autonomous driving, environmental protection, and agriculture.
SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalIEEE Transactions on Image Processing·DateNov 2, 2020
Researchers from Binghamton University and Intel Corp. developed a tool called FakeCatcher to detect 'deepfakes,' which boast an accuracy rate above 90%. The tool analyzes the subtle differences in skin color caused by the human heartbeat, using photoplethysmography (PPG) signals.
SourceBinghamton University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateOct 27, 2020
The new technique allows for simultaneous acquisition of images at different depths using a standard microscope, improving biological imaging applications. It utilizes a z-splitter prism to divide detected light, producing multiple high-resolution images on the same sensor without overlap.
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.
Researchers at Tokyo Tech and Carnegie Mellon University developed a new human motion capture system called MonoEye, which uses a single ultra-wide fisheye camera mounted on the user's chest. The system can capture 3D body pose, head pose, and camera pose in real-time using deep neural networks.
A new wrist-worn camera system enables accurate 3D hand pose estimation, outperforming previous work by 20%. The system's accuracy reaches 75% in detecting different grasp types and can be used for smart device control, virtual mice, and keyboards.
Researchers have developed a camera that can film 3D movies at 100 billion frames per second, capturing ultrafast imagery with stereo-polarimetric compression. The camera uses polarization information to enhance its capabilities and may help scientists study sonoluminescence.
SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 16, 2020
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a squid-like robot that can swim rapidly and efficiently, taking photos of coral and fish in the process. The soft robot uses jet propulsion to maneuver and achieve speeds of up to half a mile per hour.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalBioinspiration & Biomimetics·DateOct 6, 2020
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.
Researchers developed a compact, low-cost system that enables fast 3D hyperspectral imaging. The system uses a monochrome camera to capture both depth information and color information, allowing for improved analysis of real-world scenes and objects.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a compact Hyperspectral Stripe Projector that combines depth and spectral information, enabling real-time 3D spectroscopy. This technology has potential applications in self-driving cars, machine vision, crop monitoring, and surface wear and corrosion detection.
SourceRice University·JournalOptics Express·DateSep 24, 2020
A team of researchers discovered that synchronous fireflies don't flash according to an innate rhythm but instead adjust their behavior based on what their neighbors are doing. The study uses a new technological approach to map out the locations of the bugs flashing in their vicinity, revealing a more complex synchronization mechanism.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateSep 23, 2020
Scientists have developed an all-optical imaging system that captures ultrafast dynamic processes at a record-breaking frame rate of 15 trillion frames per second. The method uses non-collinear optical parametric amplifiers, allowing for high spatial and temporal resolutions, and has the potential to become a new microscopy technique.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics·DateSep 17, 2020
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.
Researchers found that disfluency increases people's attitudes toward a message after a time delay, leading to more favorable post-purchase decisions. Consumers misattribute the time spent in decision-making, believing they made an informed choice rather than spending time understanding information.
SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalJournal of Marketing Communications·DateSep 17, 2020
Female whale sharks grow more slowly than males but eventually surpass them to reach an average adult length of 14 metres. The study found that only one pregnant whale shark had produced 300 young, highlighting the benefits of large size for female whales.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateSep 16, 2020
A recent study found that installing cameras in HGV cabs significantly reduces risky driving behaviors, with coaching further improving results. The analysis of 669 vehicles over two years revealed a 31% reduction in harsh cornering and a 34% decrease in speeding incidents.
SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·DateSep 15, 2020
A study by the University of Copenhagen reveals that female leopards in Tanzania's Udzungwa Mountains are active from early morning to late afternoon, whereas male leopards only hunt at night. This finding contradicts previous assumptions and highlights the need for further research on these majestic predators.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalJournal of Zoology·DateSep 10, 2020
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.
Typhoon Bavi, a large storm in the Yellow Sea, was captured by NASA's EPIC camera aboard DSCOVR satellite on August 25, 2020. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 100 knots and was moving northwards.
Water polo players use efficient 'eggbeater' kicks to elevate themselves in the water, exceeding biomechanical predictions. The high efficacy of this technique may lead to optimized sports performance and new underwater propulsion methods.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalSports Biomechanics·DateAug 25, 2020
The new lens is made up of a single nanometric layer of silicon on arrays of nanoposts that interact with light. It can be used to produce high-resolution images with a wide field of view, suitable for smartphones and other devices relying on sensors.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·DateAug 24, 2020
Researchers have developed an efficient method to estimate camera movement, reducing the number of hypotheses generated from up to five to one. The new approach allows for real-time execution of pose estimation, with a complete algorithm taking only 29 milliseconds per frame.
SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateAug 20, 2020
GoPro HERO13 Black
GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.
Researchers at the University of Missouri studied drivers' responses to collision avoidance systems using open road testing. They identified four behavioral categories: active gaze, self-conscious gaze, attentive gaze, and ignored gaze, which can affect system effectiveness.
A McGill research team developed a new technique to detect nano-sized imperfections in materials using atomic force microscopy and ultrafast nonlinear optical methods. This discovery will lead to improvements in optical detectors used in various technologies, including solar cells and cell phones.
SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2020
Researchers have created a novel method using smartphones to measure soil density, which is crucial for nutrient and carbon stock management. The new approach involves taking high-resolution photos of soil samples with a smartphone camera and analyzing them using photogrammetry software.
SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateAug 5, 2020
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.
Researchers developed a single-camera machine vision algorithm allowing indoor robots to guide themselves by identifying reference points on a tiled floor. The technology has wide-ranging potential applications in warehouses, distribution centers, and industrial settings.
SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateJul 28, 2020
Researchers at the University of Bath developed a non-invasive markerless system using computer vision and deep learning to measure velocity and estimate poses. The new technology provides accurate tracking of skeleton athletes' performance, improving training sessions and potentially leading to Olympic gold medal wins.
A new method detects MIR images using Si cameras through non-degenerate two-photon absorption, enabling simple and efficient imaging. The approach avoids alignment artifacts and utilizes the nonlinear optical properties of the Si chip itself to trigger photo-induced charge carriers.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateJul 21, 2020
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have developed a wrist-mounted device called FingerTrak that continuously tracks the entire human hand in 3D using thermal cameras. The technology has potential applications in sign language translation, virtual reality, mobile health, and human-robot interac...
Meta Quest 3 512GB
Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.
QUT researchers have published a new method for detecting koalas in bushfire areas, using drones equipped with infrared cameras and an artificial intelligence algorithm. The system is more accurate and less invasive than traditional methods, providing a more reliable estimate of the population size.
SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateJul 20, 2020
The project aims to address system impediments to pervasive 360-degree video sharing by improving efficiency at each stage. Researchers will explore approaches for generating high-quality frames, adapting content to available bandwidth, and optimizing projection efficiency.
Researchers discovered that flies turn their bodies before flipping their heads during take-off from an upside-down position. The insect achieves this rapid reorientation within six wing beats at speeds of up to 30 revolutions per second.
SourceCNRS·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateJul 15, 2020
Researchers used drones with thermal cameras to locate ground-nesting farmland bird nests, identifying a promising conservation tool. The system performed best under cloudy and cold conditions, showing potential for automated nest detection in agricultural practices.
SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 14, 2020
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a system that enables robots to pick up transparent and reflective objects using a color camera and depth images. The system outperforms previous methods in grasping these challenging objects, with high success rates in both clean and cluttered environments.
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.
A research team at the University of Warwick has developed a single-pixel terahertz imaging technology that reaches 100 times faster acquisition than the previous state-of-the-art. This breakthrough enables potential use in biomedical and industrial applications, including non-invasive security and medical screening.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 10, 2020
Researchers found that home security camera traffic can be monitored by attackers to predict occupancy and future activity, leaving users vulnerable to burglary. The study highlights the need for measures to protect user privacy when using IP-connected cameras.
Scientists have developed a 3D mathematical model of the paradise tree snake's flight, revealing that aerial undulation enhances rotational stability. The team measured over 100 live snake glides and found that undulation is essential for maintaining control during glides.
Researchers at Facebook have developed an end-to-end system that converts 2D photos into 3D images, requiring no advanced photographic skills or equipment. The new technology provides seamless real-time conversion, robust enough to work on almost any photo, and generates results in seconds.
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.
Researchers developed two dermascopes using smartphone-based cameras to image skin lesions, mapping differences between melanoma and erythema. The approach improves efficiency and efficacy of skin-lesion diagnostics with high precision and simplicity.
SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Biomedical Optics·DateJun 23, 2020
The new research system records, reconstructs, compresses, and delivers high-quality immersive light field videos with a lightweight and efficient approach. The team overcomes challenges to create a realistic virtual environment with panoramic views and natural lighting effects.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new method for making metasurfaces, which can control light and create ultra-thin camera lenses. This breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in optical technology, including portable electronics, sensors, and space satellites.
SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalACS Photonics·DateJun 11, 2020
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.
A team of Brown University physicists has developed a new type of compact, ultra-sensitive magnetometer that could be useful in applications involving weak magnetic fields. The device uses the anomalous Hall effect and is up to 20 times more sensitive than traditional Hall effect sensors.
SourceBrown University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 8, 2020
A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has successfully captured high-speed atomic video at 1,600 frames per second using a powerful electron microscope and highly sensitive camera. This achievement is 100 times faster than previous experiments and enables the observation of previously inaccessible details.
SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalBulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan·DateJun 4, 2020
Researchers developed a software framework that incorporates computer vision and uncertainty into AI for robotic prosthetics, allowing users to walk safely on various terrains. The framework uses robust AI algorithms to predict terrain type, quantify uncertainty, and adjust behavior accordingly.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering·DateMay 27, 2020
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.
Researchers from Tsinghua University and MIT developed a thin lensless camera free of noise using Fresnel zone plate and compressive sensing algorithm. The FZA imaging system can capture high-quality images with single-shot 'hologram' without calibration, driving down the cost of camera production.
SourceLight Publishing Center, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics And Physics, CAS·DateMay 26, 2020
A Florida Tech student discovered systemic design flaws in several internet-connected doorbell and security camera systems, allowing malicious actors to retain access to camera systems indefinitely. The vulnerabilities could lead to substantial invasions of privacy or instances of electronic stalking.
Researchers used drones to create centimeter-resolution 3D models of a volcano in Guatemala, revealing slow expansion and fast extrusion of viscous lava. The study provides new possibilities for measuring ground movements and predicting volcanic danger.
SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 25, 2020
A study from Linköping University shows that proximity in video calls is established mainly by way of the body and senses, such as giving a digital high five. Humour and creativity also play a role in creating emotional proximity.
SourceLinköping University·JournalJournal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development·DateMay 18, 2020
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.
The new camera detects single photons at unprecedented speeds, enabling fast acquisition of 3D images. It can acquire images at up to 24,000 frames per second, making it suitable for applications such as virtual reality and LiDAR systems.
A new startup, Oqullo, is developing a platform that utilizes computer visual algorithms and network cameras to gather demographic information about customers. This data can be used to offer personalized experiences in shopping, traveling, and other consumer activities.