Re:The paper that came up with Apple Vision Pro's outward-fa...
by alfalfasprout on Friday June 09, 2023 @04:52PM
(#36264020)
I have a few NVGs. They're definitely expensive (a good setup is $10k+) but it's definitely not true that they're all defect returns. L3 image intensifier tubes that enter the civilian market are just as good as the military gets for the same product. For cheap (<$10k) NVGs that's a totally different story though.
They do work in complete darkness! You just need an IR illumination source. If not using a weapon mounted illuminator you can just use an IR flashlight. Thermal doesn't require external illumination but isn't anywhere near as useful for navigation. That said, good IR laser + illuminator weapon mounted systems are a few thousand bucks too.
My point about vision pro type devices is they can take a feed from real NVG tubes and potentially regular cameras and thermal and combine them. It'll be game changing when the tech is ready. It's not a matter of if but when.
- real NVG costs way above my budget, and all comes with defects. Realistically the tubes in civilian markets are all defective returns.
- even real NVGs can’t work in complete darkness, such as in a closet; moonlight or starlight is needed.
- real NVGs on firearms are often used in conjunction with an IR laser and a flashlight for aiming; advantage is solely that you have to have a goggle to see it, not that you can operate without making any emissions.
- partly due to above points, plain old CMOS cameras with modified 1” Sony sensors for better low light performance is starting to match practical usefulness of a real NVG(it’s Cold War tech so no wonder here). Latency is an issue, but more of “is an issue” and no longer a blocker.
… Vision Pro type of devices replacing NVGs indeed seem like a near future possibility.