Researchers from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois have developed a powerful holographic camera. The new high-resolution camera has the potential to see through human skin, fog, and even bones. It can also image fast-moving objects like speeding cars or even the beating heart.
Working of the camera
When the laser light is scattered onto hidden objects, the light is bounced back to the camera. Then an AI reconstructs the signals to show the hidden object.
The camera uses a technique called ‘synthetic wavelength holography’. It represents an advancement in a new research field called non-line-of-sight (NLoS) imaging. It is concerned with imaging objects that are obscured or surrounded by some material.
“Our technology will usher in a new wave of imaging capabilities,” Northwestern University researcher Florian Willomitzer said. “Our current sensor prototypes use visible or infrared light, but the principle is universal and could be extended to other wavelengths. For example, the same method could be applied to radio waves for space exploration or underwater acoustic imaging. It can be applied to many areas, and we have only scratched the surface.”
It could be used in early-warning navigation systems for automobiles or non-invasive medical imaging. The new technology can even see the tiniest capillaries at work.
