Australian and US engineers have developed miniature sensors that can switch between optical and infrared images, offering a cost-effective solution for farmers in crop monitoring and pest control. The sensors, which could be easily fitted to drones and satellites, were detailed in a recent study published in Nature Communications.
Lead author Dr. Michele Cotrufo highlighted the system’s ability to switch between edge detection and capturing detailed infrared images, providing significant benefits for crop health monitoring. This capability allows farmers to gather more information on potential pest infestations detected by remote sensors.
The new sensors utilize a flat fiber optics material that enables miniaturization, revolutionizing the traditional optical elements bottleneck. This breakthrough in technology, led by Ann Roberts from the University of Melbourne’s ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS), allows for rapid switching between edge detection and infrared imaging without the need for bulky external processors.
Professor Madhu Bhaskaran from RMIT University emphasized the years of fundamental research that led to the development of this technology. The sensor system, comprising a filter made with vanadium dioxide, demonstrates a smart tuning capability, transforming from an insulating to a metallic state based on temperature changes to process images.
With granted US and pending Australian patents, the future of these sensors looks promising for environmental sensing applications in drones and satellites, offering a compact, lightweight, and efficient solution for farmers worldwide.
