Frontline industrial professionals are now able to conduct maintenance inspections using a new thermal camera attached to a head mounted device. RealWear, the assisted reality wearable technology provider, has launched a thermal camera module that connects with its Navigator 500 series headsets.
The system allows users to quickly identify temperature anomalies in industrial equipment such as pipes, pumps, motors and wiring. Suitable applications of the technology include electrical, mechanical and plumbing tasks as well as inspections of heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The voice activated device makes use of thermal vision technology from Teledyne FLIR. Imagery can be viewed in real time and in future could be shared using platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex Expert on Demand.
Radiometric JPEG format images can be stored, transmitted, and downloaded for use within the FLIR Thermal Studio post processing software, for analysis and reporting.
RealWear’s chief product officer Rama Oruganti said: “The compelling option to add thermal image capture without occupying your hands in hazardous environments gives frontline professionals more real time information to do their jobs safely and productively.”
Teledyne FLIR’s senior director of business development Dan Jarvis added: “Thermal imaging is critical to assembly, effective condition monitoring and predictive maintenance programmes.
“RealWear Navigator 500 is the only hands free system to currently incorporate FLIR Lepton and patented MSX technology, which overlays live edge detail from the visible camera on the thermal image to provide critical information.”
American Honda Motor Company innovation engineer Greg Cooper says a fully hands free thermal camera will allow its technicians to get their job done more quickly.
“A hands free, fully voice controlled thermal enables us to immediately show what we’re doing to address airlocks and ventilation leaks to the reliability team to give them the confidence that our engines and systems are reliable and meet our high quality standards.”
Rama Oruganti of Realwear adds: “Our long term vision of assisted intelligence takes shape when you start connecting new captured data like thermal imaging into the Cloud and beyond.
“Industrial wearables have a huge role to play going forward.”
Compact thermal camera also launched
Teledyne FLIR has also launched a compact thermal camera, the Cx5, for condition monitoring purposes in hazardous environments. The 160 x 120-pixel camera has a rugged ATEX-compliant case, which allows users to safely monitor electrical or mechanical assets in hot working zones.
Potentially explosive environments – such as oil and gas plants or chemical plants – need to be protected from ignition sources. This is why electronic devices used in these environments need to comply with ATEX Product Regulations or similar.
“In hazardous environments, it’s critical for surveyors to be able to detect problems fast, so they can react accordingly,” said the firm’s senior director Michael Deruytter. “The FLIR Cx5 is compact and very easy to use. This allows maintenance professionals to always have their camera at hand, find hidden issues quickly and reduce diagnostic time.”
The camera features a thermal imaging sensor and multi spectral dynamic imaging technology to provide visible scene details onto thermal images. This results in a crisp thermal image, enabling inspectors to pinpoint hidden problems instantly.
FLIR Cx5 is compatible with FLIR Ignite, a secure Cloud storage solution that allows users to directly upload, edit, organise and share their images. Customers can also use FLIR Thermal Studio software to fine tune their images and create professional reports.