Research Overview

In India, thermal cameras are seeing moderate demand in the test and measurement (T&M) industry. Traditionally, these cameras have been used in defense, healthcare, and firefighting (surveillance purposes); today, the focus has moved to industrial segments, and thermal cameras are used for detection, monitoring, inspection, and testing purposes. Technology advancements make for reduced time and cost, and the devices can be used to conduct energy audits, detect moisture in ceilings/walls/roofs, and spot plumbing leaks/blockages.

End users prefer uncooled thermal cameras due to low initial and maintenance costs and high efficiency. Cooled thermal cameras are extremely sensitive and provide better detection capabilities; they are ideal for use in mid- to long-range detection applications. The main downsides of these cameras are the high initial and maintenance costs, the extended downtime for service, and the need for cooling before system start. Uncooled thermal cameras are not bulky and have lesser moving parts than cooled cameras; however, for R&D applications and other critical applications that require high image quality and the temperature measurement of small targets, cooled cameras are preferred.

As demand increases, users will expect high-quality products at low prices. Advancements in image processing and the small form factor will allow these cameras to be used in mainstream applications across small and medium-sized businesses. They will also see high uptake in service and maintenance applications and will be able to provide augmented safety, reduced downtime, and superior accuracy. The application of thermal cameras with data analytics will become a significant growth opportunity, especially because industries have started to focus on predictive maintenance and remote operations with the help of IoT. Some of the key technology trends under study are artificial intelligence (AI) technology in thermal imaging, the use of UAVs in building thermography, real-time visualization and target assessment, smartphone thermal image cameras, augmented reality (AR) thermal-based wearable UI, and HQ/HD image quality.