Microcantilever cameras shed light on night driving

17 Jun 2002

Night-vision cameras similar to the sophisticated ones that helped make Desert Storm a success could become a safety feature in automobiles and commercial aircraft because of a discovery by researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Infrared night-vision imaging systems typically installed in military vehicles and planes cost about $100,000, making them impractical for most civilian applications. Researchers developed a revolutionary Uncooled Microcantilever Infrared Camera using microcantilevers, which are similar to miniature phonographic needles. The new technology could improve resolution and reduce the cost to less than $1,000 if mass production can be achieved. In automobiles, night-vision cameras could allow drivers to see past oncoming headlight glare and beyond what they can see with headlights.