Is Infrared technology the Right Choice for
IPS?
A quick question: what has a longer wavelength than visible light but a shorter wavelength than a microwave? The correct answer is… Infrared
Infrared wavelengths are relatively close to visible light and microwave wavelengths in the radiation spectrum, with a range of 780 nm to 1 mm. For the time being, we'll skip the technical details. But what will impress you is how you can feel infrared rays but not see them. If you're weighing the benefits and drawbacks of IR technology, we'll answer 5 questions that’ll help you make an informed decision
Fact:
● Nearly half of the Sun’s energy reaching the Earth is infrared.
● All matter, including ice cubes, emits infrared radiation due to molecular oscillations
● Because infrared waves are transmissive, they can pass through most matter, including animal skin.
Infrared is Versatile and Easy to Control But is It a Cookie-Cutter Solution?
Although infrared is invisible to the naked eye, it is not to IR sensors When the surface temperature of an object rises above absolute zero, it emits radiation A highly sensitive thermal sensing device can render a well-defined object by painting it in temperature-related colors It isolates the target from its surroundings with reasonable precision. However, because they only travel in straight lines, infrared is still a long way from becoming the go-to solution in broader applications. It is inconvenient for tracking heat signatures from behind walls or between building transitions
Indoor positioning, for example, prompts special hardware and extensive interior modification to improve detection and ranging capabilities. Our issue with infrared technology is the high initial cost and limited scaling potential They are difficult to own and maintain because the hardware requires scheduled maintenance Mapsted however, has a solution that is designed to overcome the limitations of IR technology. It is completely hardware-free and, most importantly, accurate to a meter. Not only is the ranging and positioning more precise for users of Mapsted, but they are also easy to scale for complex use cases
Mapsted exploits a directional beam to locate users on maps This way, you get the most advanced location technology to provide users with real-time contextual navigation. Because Mapsted's solution is truly enterprise-ready, it offers a better value proposition than infrared technology. So much so that major retailers, museums, shopping malls, hospitals, and other industry heavyweights rely on Mapsted for their real-time positioning requirements
What is Infrared Technology Used for?
Here are some typical applications of infrared technology:
● When most people think of infrared technology, they think of airport scanners Airport security checks will take longer without them, putting enormous strain on airport management.
● IR technology improves combat capabilities at night in military applications. Using heat-sensitive thermal imaging cameras, infantry can see and strike targets in the dark Law enforcement uses an offshoot solution to combat crime
● Infrared technology is also used in space exploration, where it is now the key to seeing beyond constellations to solve cosmic mysteries.
● A more familiar application is the remote control for home appliances.
● Heat mapping devices, in conjunction with analytics, help to spot patterns in how people use a facility They reveal everything from occupancy status to how long and where people spend the majority of their time
Based on these examples, we can conclude that infrared technology excels in areas where other technologies fail However, the limitation of IR as a standalone solution, particularly in IPS, limits its potential.
How Does Infrared Technology Work?
Infrared technology detects strong and weak heat signatures Because the thermal sensitivities of two objects placed side by side differ, it helps distinguish the object from its surroundings.
In the real world, matter or the activities of living entities emit energy in the form of heat and infrared Their biological and mechanical distinctions, however, necessitate a broader discussion For time being let's consider the soil and plants as an example. After absorbing the heat of the sun during the day, they emit infrared at night. With varying absorbancies, a thermal imaging palette or Ironbow is used to detect temperature variations on a greyscale image They ascend from black to blue, magenta, orange, yellow, and white Warmer temperatures appear whiter, whereas cooler temperatures appear darker.
Given that the rate of thermal radiation differs between the two materials, a temperature palette is a reliable method for comparing spectral bands for object detection.
What is Infrared Wireless Technology?
Infrared technology has two wireless modes, one of which is line-of-sight signal exchange It facilitates the communication and control of household appliances A television remote is a classic application of line-of-sight IR technology IR is used in scatter mode to broadcast signals across the room for positioning and ranging.
The distance between a transmitter and receiver in line-of-sight mode degrades performance The signal is simply lost if the transmission range exceeds 10 meters. However, in scatter mode, transmission continues even if the receiver is out of sight.
Concluding Thoughts
We've seen plenty of advantages and disadvantages to using infrared technology Because of the economic benefits, it was irreplaceable for decades Today, newer technologies such as Bluetooth Beacons and Wifi are overcoming many disadvantages, rendering infrared technology obsolete. Despite their numerous past accomplishments, they continue to underperform in areas requiring complex mapping This is where a more versatile and easy-to-scale solution comes into play We're referring to Mapsted The technology that underpins all commercial indoor positioning wireless solutions