Historical Development of Night Vision Devices - Essay Example

Development of Night Vision Devices Night vision devices (NVD) is an optical instrument that serve the purpose of producing images in levels of light approaching total darkness (Anonymous, 2011). The device comprises of a complete unit. This includes an image intensifier tube, a protective water resistant housing, and the mounting system. Among the NVDs devices are the IR illuminator, telescopic lenses and sacrificial lenses. This paper seeks to discuss the development, current use, applications, as well as the future research on night vision devices. Development of the NVD During the World War II, the world’s formidable powers developed a rudimentary infrared sniper scope that employed near infrared cathodes alongside visible phosphorus that provided near infrared image converter (Hess, 2002). This is the technology that saw the dream of realizing night visions tools come true (Anonymous, 2011). During its initial developmental stages, night vision contracted scientists from the American radio corporation to research and develop a near infra red two stage cascading image tube. The new system that employed a multi-alkali photocathode was better that the prior one (Vogel, 2002). This is because it had the ability to collect and intensified the ambient light from the night sky. Though this system was innovative, it still posed challenges due to the limited night gain and inverted images. In a move to have this issue remedied, a third electrostatic stage was developed for purposes of improving light gain and to re-invent the images. With these innovations in process, the size of the tube increased to about 3.5 inches in diameter and 17 inches in length henceforth posing an even greater challenge of practical applications due to its size (Vogel, 2002). Within the periods of 1957-1958 a night vision scientist, John Johnson, developed methods that predicted the target detection, identification and recognition (Vogel, 2002). Upon development of the image intensifier instrument, Johnson involved volunteer’s observers in order to test an individual ability to identify targets under varied conditions. Notably, this period marked a considerable development in the performance modeling of the night vision imaging systems. In the 1960s, night vision scientists and engineers presented the first generation night vision devices to the U.S. troops, including a small starlight scope (Vogel, 2002). In the 1970s prototypes employing thermal imaging based on the distant infra red spectrum were formulated (Vogel, 2002). The night vision R&D continued to develop the practical night vision equipment that relied heavily on the infrared technology. With the advent of linear scanning imagers comprising of multiple element detector arrays, night vision got inspired to develop thermal imaging systems .The Multiple element arrays offered a somewhat high performance real time framing imager capable of being used in the military (Vogel, 2002). Thus, navigation systems such as the forward looking infrared systems were targeted because they offered a better vision at night in the event of smoke, smog, fog among other obscuring conditions (Vogel, 2002). In 1978, at the optical radiation technical area, laser scientists designed the first monolithic linear laser diode arrays for high peak power laser illuminators operation. This system had a capacity to image targets to up to 3 kilometers away (Vogel, 2002). The research carried out by night vision expanded to include solid state laser, chemical detection, gas lasers, laser radar, large range finder systems, laser designator systems and the light aiming systems. This was followed by the developing diode pumped lasers for army applications. The chronological accomplishments within the decade were the development of hand held thermal viewer, followed by the PVS-4 individual weapon sight, then there was the common module FLIR production and the PVS-5 night vision goggles (Vogel, 2002). In 1980s, night vision enhanced their image intensification systems, this third generation of night vision, composed of the AN/AVS-6 aviator’s night imaging system as well as the AN/PVS-7 night vision goggles (Vogel, 2002). In this period, the AN/GVS-5 laser observation set was developed, henceforth increasing the probability of hitting airborne or stationary targets. By and large, night vision pioneered the era of aided target recognition. Although the U.S. forces were able to see in the dark, it was still necessary to help a soldier to distinguish between an enemy and a friend. Thus, night vision scientists wrote algorithms that turned out to be more effective at target detection and eventual minimization of false alarm confusions. In the 1990s night vision further developed an eye safe laser range finder, followed by the development of the AN/PVS-6 Eye safe laser infrared observation set (MELIOS) also there was the development of the next generation of Aviators night vision imaging system having he heads up display (AN/AVS-7) and further improvement of the light weight thermal weapon sights for the ground troops (Xu, Liu and Fujimura, 2005). Work continued to be done on the compact solid state lasers, chemical and biological agent detection, the multifunction lasers and the laser radar. Indeed, laser development system continued to be pursued by night vision, on the designators, rangefinders, and the laser target identification as well as obstacle avoidance. Current use In the 21th century, NVESD has given the Army the legacy to own the night. Indeed NVESD had transitioned the unique sensor technologies that have so far resulted in the fielding of over 40,000 laser systems, 60,000 thermal systems, and 15,000 countermine systems as well as, the 400,000 image intensifier systems (Vogel, 2002). The “slogan seeing without being seen” primarily rests with the specific law enforcement units and the military commandos. For a long time mankind aspired to achieve this goal through modern technology. Indeed, the better it succeeded, the more complex it became of the night vision technology devices. For the initial developer of this system – the military-the costs incurred during development and production only played a subordinate role (Vogel, 2002). Notably, the night vision technology primarily represented high level technology more specifically to be used for military purposes. Following its primary purpose, application designed within the civilian and scientific range sometimes has been restricted or even forbidden by law. Nonetheless, times have been changing and, the consumer market has been growing gradually. Applications, as well as the future research on night vision devices. In the past, these systems were exclusively reserved for the military (Stew, 2007). However, in the recent days, they have become available for civilian users for example, security companies, marine crew members, hunters, and nature observers. But still the military aviation, secret services special forces, and law enforcement authorities have benefited from the application of the modern night vision devices. Under the funding of NASA, research has been underway with the overall goals of determining the critical human factors issues involving pilot’s military and civil use of the night vision devices (Stew, 2007). Another goal of this research is to conduct studies as well as simulation research aimed at pilot capabilities and the problems related to both civil and military use. In addition, to identify and evaluate the potential technological solutions to the problems, and last but not least to create knowledge base that ensured informed decision making certifying of the night vision devices. These researches are also aimed at improving the system specifications and training requirements through the study of the most significant human factors. By and large research has been underway to determine attention problems and distortions in motion perceptions alongside range estimation brought by an offset eye point (Stew, 2007). Indeed laboratory and simulation studies have been underway in order to identify perceptual and the cognitive costs and benefits of employing monocular and binocular displays. Although, the monocular display format left unaided eye free to view the peripheral motion cues together with the cockpit instruments as well as, verify the identity of the objects directly differences in the information directed to the two eyes were liable to cause a binocular rivalry (Xu, Liu and Fujimura, 2005). As suggested by the chief technologist, Joseph Estrera, of the Northrop Grumman’s electro-optical systems that there exists plenty of room for improvement in night vision technologies (Xu, Liu and Fujimura, 2005). He asserts that the night vision devices should be improved to be as light as possible as opposed to their weight currently. Notably, size, weight, power, and the three bugaboos mounted on a modern day marine or soldier still remains to be critical issues. Studies have revealed that, for more light to be taken in, the night vision devices must have a wider aperture –of about 1.2 f-stop on most of the cameras. However, as it is known by professional photographers, a wider the aperture results into smaller field depth (Stew, 2007). Thus, for the troops using this technology, they are forced to adjust their goggles by hand. As such, work has been ongoing to ensure a hands free digital technology is realized, particularly, a wave front coding technology found on portable phone cameras that enables users to take pictures without focusing. By and large, Air force has developed a panoramic night vision goggle that uses four lenses to expand the view field to be used by the pilots (Anonymous, 2011). For enhanced safety, fusion technologies have been incorporated it enhances the image by giving the night vision its characteristic green glow. Also, Infra red doesn’t rely on the ambient light but instead picks up heat signatures thus fusing the two will provide a better clarity for the camouflaged targets henceforth giving a better contrast. Other developments are underway to produce optically fused enhanced night vision goggles. It still remains unclear whether the army intends to mass produce these optical fused goggle or they will wait until the digital system is mature. Also in progress is the multispectral adaptive tactical and networked imaging system that has a potential to a quantum jump in technology. With all this research breakthroughs, size, weight, and power still remains to be the greatest challenges. References Anonymous. (2011). Fire Arms History Technology And Development Night Vision Devices Retrieved on 29th march 2013 from http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2011/07/night-vision-devices.html Hess, P. (2002). Army Identifies Soldiers Killed in Crash, UPI, retrieved on 29th march 2013 from http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20021213-124412-7962r Johnson, C.W (2003). Handbook of Incident Reporting: Glasgow. Glasgow University Press, Stew, M. (2007). Researchers Push For Advances in Night Vision Technology: National Defense retrieved on 29th march 2013 from http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2007/October/Pages/Researchers2492.aspx Vogel, S. (2002).Marine KC-130 That Hit Mountain Had No Night Vision; Aviators Wonder Why Tankers Equipped to Land in Dark Are Not Being Used in Afghan War Zone,Washington Post, Sunday, February 17, 2002; Page A17. Xu, F ., Liu, X., and Fujimura, K. (2005). "Pedestrian Detection and Tracking with Night Vision." Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Transactions, vol. 6, pp. 63-71. Read More