A new camera has been developed that can take 3D pictures of objects from a distance of around one kilometre.
This amazing piece of technology works by firing lasers at the object and then measuring how much time it takes for the light to travel back. This is actually how a bat detects its prey, only using sound instead of light – known as echolocation.
The BBC reported on the new camera, which has been developed by physicists at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The report suggested the camera could be used to scan objects such as vehicles as well as to track rock movement or foliage growth.
Aongus McCarthy, a research fellow at Heriot-Watt and one of the development team, said: “Our approach gives a low-power route to the depth imaging of ordinary, small targets at very long range.
“It is clear that the system would have to be miniaturised and made more rugged, but we believe that a lightweight, fully portable scanning depth imager is possible and could be a product in less than five years.”
The camera is accurate up to a millimetre, but cannot detect human skin as this does not reflect the lasers in the same way. This means stripping naked would be the only way to avoid detection.
Whilst this is a fantastic invention and a serious subject, the idea of criminals sitting around in a van naked did make me smile a bit.
It’s also fascinating to think that bats can do this already, without the use of any technology.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22079704