Camera Technology Merges into Vehicle Robotics

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Advanced camera systems are incorporated into vehicles for the purposes of autonomous and remote operation. Cameras and sensors have been incorporated into vehicles for decades, but in the past two years the technology has moved further into the robotics industry.
In a recent purchase agreement FLIR, the veteran camera system company will acquire Endeavor Robotics company for $385 million, according to c4isrnet.com.
With Endeavor Robotics comes a whole host of tracked unmanned ground vehicles, including the infantry-deployable (and -tossable) FirstLook, and the larger and heavier PackBot and Kobra. These robots can incorporate a variety of sensors from FLIR, for everything from video and infrared to chemical detection. Being in-house means FLIR can experiment and explore more fusion of its various platforms.
sensors have been used by the military, government, law enforcement and in the security space, and have had to stay competitive with commercial companies. Lessons learned from an application in nuclear reactor security might be applicable to a sensor on an explosive ordnance disposal robot. Those updates and lessons have stayed fixed to the specific sensor. With the new robotics companies acquired by the company, it can adapt its vehicles and sensors in a more holistic way
FLIR’s past, present and future remain very much about the core business of providing sensors for others to incorporate. Also in that future we can anticipate FLIR adapting and designing its own vehicles around its sensors. That means looking at the way the data collected by those sensors can be turned into everything from useful navigational information for an autonomous system on the vehicle, to vital information relayed by tablet to soldiers commanding the robot nearby.