Police Helicopter Infrared

[apelly]

Discl: I did zero research...

So, there's a helicopter circling/ellipsing/hanging about at the moment.

I thought I'd take a look through my cell phone camera. I wondered if I'd see a cone of light as they track whoever they're after.

But no. I see nothing.

Are they using passive IR, or is something else happening that I haven't thought of?

[jpanhalt]

I suspect passive IR, which is at a wavelength much longer than your cell phone can detect. 

[apelly]

If you see helicopters, put on your invisibility cloak; or your mylar thermal blanket...

[Mr. Scram]

If you see helicopters, put on your invisibility cloak; or your mylar thermal blanket...

I think there's a lot of footage of people who hide and where heat starts leaking out after a while. You can't stay hidden forever, you inevitably heat up your surroundings.

[Brumby]

It's passive.  Has to be.

Illuminating a scene simply makes everything brighter.  A suspect can simply avoid detection by not moving as they will be just as illuminated as the surroundings.

By having a camera sensitive to the longer wavelengths, body heat shines like light bulb when the rest of the scene is cooler.

PolAir in NSW has FLIR.

[Zero999]

I suspect passive IR, which is at a wavelength much longer than your cell phone can detect.

Yes, 9–14 µm is typical. You'll be lucky if your phone camera can see  down to 1µm.

[apelly]

If you see helicopters, put on your invisibility cloak; or your mylar thermal blanket...

I think there's a lot of footage of people who hide and where heat starts leaking out after a while. You can't stay hidden forever, you inevitably heat up your surroundings.

No need to hide. You're literally invisible. It's a walk in the park.

[Brumby]

So - you reckon you can "green screen" the Police's FLIR?


Impressive.   

[apelly]

What'll really screw them is the yetti shaped hot water bottle footprints

[Brumby]

You have this streak...







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