Professional Thermal Imaging: Vehicle, Riflescope & Avionic Systems
Investing in thermal imaging equipment is a significant decision. To make an informed choice, it is vital to understand the inherent strengths and limitations of the technology, irrespective of brand or price. Without this knowledge, it is easy to overinvest or be left with a system that does not meet your expectations, particularly when operating in certain weather conditions.
This page outlines FYRLYT's professional-grade thermal solutions, engineered for superior performance and reliability. We provide direct, factual information to help you select the most effective equipment for your specific operational requirements.
Expert Advice on Thermal Imaging Solutions
f this is your first thermal equipment purchase, we encourage you to contact us for a no-obligation consultation with our design team. We will listen to your requirements, answer your technical questions, and provide valuable advice based on years of hands-on experience. This is especially true for the complexities of mounting a thermal monocular on a vehicle roof, with or without an integrated spotlight.
FYRLYT pioneered the specialised integration of thermal cameras and spotlights by designing and manufacturing our own system, the FTV 640, right here in Australia. We offer a level of insight and support that is unparalleled in the industry.
FTV 640: Integrated Remote Thermal Camera System
For monitoring large land areas day and night, the FYRLYT FTV 640 thermal system, fully integrated with our HELLFYR 12000 spotlight and FYRSTIK remote handle, has no equal. It is the only system of its type designed and manufactured in Australia, offering a complete solution for monitoring feral animals, livestock, property assets, and perimeter security.
As a customer, you engage directly with our design team for support and advice. Furthermore, every component of the FTV 640 system is available individually, ensuring a lifetime of serviceable, as-new performance without price gouging on spare parts.
FTO Series: High-Performance Thermal Riflescopes
The thermal optics market is complex, with a vast range of prices based on sensor size and brand. FYRLYT's FTO Series thermal riflescopes are engineered to deliver exceptional real-world field performance and value. The FTO 384-50 and FTO 640-50 models utilise high-quality European 384x288 and 640x512 12µm sensors, providing detailed imagery at extended distances.
Housed within a familiar and robust 30mm tube, 3-turret design, these scopes prioritise essential features and performance without compromise. Tested and evolved in Australia, our FTO scopes offer a reliable and effective solution for serious users. Contact our Australian-based team for honest advice to help you find the right thermal riflescope for your needs.
PROJECT FYRFLY: Advanced Thermal Camera for Aviation
Building on the success of our FTV 640 vehicle system and in response to calls for innovation from the Australian aviation community, we developed PROJECT FYRFLY 640A. This project delivers an affordable, seamlessly integrated thermal camera system designed for avionic visual displays, set to revolutionise aerial operations.
FYRFLY 640A empowers pilots with real-time thermal imagery, enhancing situational awareness and safety in challenging low-light conditions. Its compact, lightweight design ensures straightforward installation and operation across a range of aircraft and helicopters, making advanced thermal imaging more accessible for the entire aviation sector.
A Critical Fact About Thermal Sensor Resolution
A common and costly misconception in the thermal imaging market is that a physically larger sensor guarantees higher image resolution. This is incorrect. As FYRLYT's lead thermal designer, Paul Alisauskas, clarifies and explains the physical dimension of a sensor does not dictate its resolution. The truth lies in understanding the concept of PPD. Pixels per degree.
Understanding this distinction is crucial. It can save you thousands of dollars by preventing you from overpaying for specifications based on marketing-driven misunderstandings about size. Our goal is to provide the scientific facts you need to assess thermal performance accurately and make an intelligent investment based on your specific application.
Comparing Thermal Scopes: An Objective Data Analysis
To cut through marketing hype, FYRLYT believes in transparent, evidence-based comparisons. We have compiled thermal sensor data directly from manufacturers' own specifications to analyse performance using the PPD (Pixels Per Degree) method. PPD is a crucial metric of angular resolution that determines the level of detail a scope can actually resolve at distance. This provides a clearer and more accurate measure of performance than relying on ambiguous marketing claims.
The results of this data-driven comparison are clear and may challenge common assumptions. We present this information to empower serious users and enthusiasts with factual insights, ensuring your investment is based on genuine real-world capability and delivers the performance required for your application.
Choosing the Right Thermal Scope: Performance vs. Resolution Hype
Investing in a quality thermal scope involves navigating a market with prices from $3,000 to over $10000, often accompanied by marketing that suggests higher resolution sensors (e.g., 1024x768) are always superior. The critical factor, however, is not just the sensor size but your typical operational use. It is essential to analyse performance through clearer metrics, such as PPD (Pixels Per Degree) and your required Field of View (FOV), rather than just pixel counts.
If your typical use involves higher optical magnification (e.g., 5x or more) and does not require an exceptionally wide field of view for close-range scanning, a more expensive 640 or 1024 sensor can provide no discernible advantage.
A high-quality 384x288 12µm scope, like the FYRLYT FTO 384-50, can offer the same detection and identification capabilities at these magnifications because the presented resolution is comparable. This approach can yield significant cost savings without compromising effective performance. For obligation-free, expert advice on your specific needs, contact our design team directly
Free Personal Consultation: Optimise Your Thermal Investment
It is easy to over or under-invest when choosing thermal equipment. We provide factual guidance, not marketing hype, to ensure you select the right products for your specific needs and avoid costly mistakes. An informed decision is the best investment you can make.
Contact FYRLYT today for a personal, no-obligation consultation with our design team. We offer expert advice with zero sales pressure, helping you optimise your thermal imaging choices. We welcome enquiries from anywhere in the world via the quick submission form below.
Frequently Asked Questions: Thermal Imaging Technology
Welcome to the FYRLYT Thermal FAQ. We understand that thermal technology is complex, often surrounded by confusing terminology and marketing hype. Overzealous claims can be common, especially in the premium market, which may not align with real-world performance. This section aims to cut through the noise, providing clear, factual information to assist your decision-making process.
While this technology is transformative, we advise caution against relying solely on influencer or reseller advice, particularly regarding high-resolution 1024 or 1280 sensors. These sensors have specific applications but are not a universal solution and may not deliver the benefits you have been led to believe. Understanding the fundamentals is key to a sound investment. For expert, no-obligation guidance tailored to your needs, contact the FYRLYT design team directly.
Optical vs. Digital Magnification in Scopes
Conventional riflescopes use optical magnification, an analogue process that works by bending visible light through a series of lenses to physically enlarge the image of a target. Moving these lens elements provides true optical magnification, increasing the apparent size of an object by presenting a genuinely larger optical representation to your eye.
Thermal scopes function differently, displaying a digital image of heat energy rather than magnifying visible light. A thermal scope's 'base' magnification is determined by its lens focal length and sensor characteristics. Any further zoom is typically digital, which crops and enlarges the existing pixels of the processed thermal image. Unlike optical zoom, this digital process does not resolve any more detail; it simply makes the existing pixels appear larger.
Understanding PPD (Pixels Per Degree)
PPD, or Pixels Per Degree, is a crucial metric that defines the true angular resolution of a thermal sensor. It specifies how many pixels are contained within each degree of the scope's Field of View (FOV). A higher PPD value is superior, as it allows the sensor to resolve finer detail at a distance.
Key facts about PPD include:
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Primary Function: It directly dictates the level of detail a sensor can resolve, which impacts object recognition and detection range.
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Influencing Factors: The PPD value is determined by the pixel spacing on the thermal sensor and the focal length of the scope's lens.
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Calculation: It is calculated by dividing the sensor's pixel count (horizontal or vertical) by its corresponding Field of View in degrees.
Thermal Sensor Sensitivity: Understanding NETD (mK)
The sensitivity of a thermal sensor is measured by its Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD), with the unit expressed in milliKelvin (mK). A lower mK value is better, signifying higher sensitivity and allowing the sensor to produce a sharper, higher-contrast image by detecting smaller temperature variations.
When evaluating NETD specifications for uncooled sensors, it is wise to consider the following:
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Inherent Noise: Uncooled sensors operate at ambient temperatures and naturally have more thermal noise than cryogenically cooled sensors.
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Low mK Claims: Claims of exceptionally low mK values (e.g., below 25mK) may be achieved through non-representative testing conditions or heavy software processing, which may not reflect the true raw sensitivity of the sensor itself.
Detection Distance: The Johnson Criteria vs. PPD
While the Johnson Criteria is a historically important benchmark for thermal imaging performance, its flexibility can be used to create misleading marketing claims. For this reason, FYRLYT recommends the Pixels Per Degree (PPD) method for its superior clarity and less ambiguous measure of performance. The core principle of the Johnson Criteria is that a sensor must detect a sufficient temperature difference (ΔT) between an object and its background, which must exceed the system's own thermal noise (NETD).
The Johnson Criteria uses a standard human figure (approx. 1.8m x 0.5m) to define the number of pixels required on target for different levels of task performance. The generally accepted guidelines are: Detection (knowing an object is present) requires 2-3 pixels; Recognition (classifying the object type, e.g., 'person' or 'vehicle') requires 6-8 pixels; and Identification (identifying a specific object, e.g., 'a person with a rifle') requires 12-15 pixels.
Pixel Pitch Explained (Microns / µm)
Pixel pitch is the distance from the centre of one pixel to the centre of the next on a thermal sensor array, measured in micrometres (µm). This fundamental specification, found on any sensor's datasheet, defines the density of the pixel grid and applies equally to all thermal sensors, whether they are cooled or uncooled.
The primary impact of pixel pitch relates to the physical size of the sensor. For any given resolution (e.g., 640x512), a smaller pixel pitch results in a physically smaller sensor. Conversely, a larger pixel pitch creates a larger sensor, which in turn results in fewer pixels per degree for a lens of a comparable focal length.