In recent years, the global intelligent and digital transformation has accelerated, and infrared technology has been widely used in many fields such as perimeter security, industrial inspection, medical health, environmental monitoring, fire rescue, etc., and market demand has increased year by year.
At the same time, with the support of technologies such as multi-spectral fusion, AI, and advanced sensors, many domestic manufacturers with infrared thermal imaging as their core business have achieved outstanding performance and have a more far-reaching layout in the infrared industry.
01 Deepening of application in segmented scenarios
Currently, infrared technology not only includes infrared thermal imaging , but also covers other types such as infrared ranging and infrared communication .
In particular, the application of infrared technology in the security field has formed a complete industrial ecosystem. From core sensor manufacturers to system solution providers, many companies have relied on their technological advantages to enter different market segments and formed a variety of application scenarios. From large-scale area monitoring to specific target detection, different application environments have put forward differentiated demands on infrared technology and also spawned different technical solutions.
At present, infrared technology plays a vital role in airport perimeter security, power facility protection, energy base protection, drone monitoring and other fields.
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In the field of airport perimeter security
Modern airports face three core challenges: drone intrusions, illegal intrusions, and runway debris. Infrared thermal imaging combined with AI intelligent algorithms can efficiently monitor the perimeter around the clock and accurately identify abnormal dynamics such as regional intrusions and tripwire intrusions.
For example, the "Sleepless Infrared Guardian" system deployed by Flint Technology uses infrared thermal imagers to build an intelligent defense network. Its unique value lies in its ability to penetrate electromagnetic fog and maintain reliable monitoring in complex environments where radar and visible light equipment fail.
The system uses high-precision temperature sensing to identify foreign objects on the runway and trajectory analysis algorithms to predict the intrusion of drone swarms. Actual application data shows that this system upgrades traditional security measures from passive response to intelligent prediction, speeding up emergency response to seconds while significantly reducing manual inspection costs.
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In the field of power facility protection
Transmission lines in complex mountainous terrain face severe threats from wildfires, creating a significant demand for infrared technology. For example, Shenzhen Telikang's wildfire prevention infrared thermal imaging binocular camera utilizes dual-spectrum fusion technology of visible and infrared light to enable 24/7 monitoring of transmission corridors. By setting temperature thresholds and analyzing thermal gradients, the device can issue early warnings of wildfires.
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In the field of energy base protection
Energy facilities such as oil storage tank farms and natural gas pipelines use fixed infrared thermal imagers to monitor leaks and temperature anomalies. The infrared thermal imaging detection system uses an automatic temperature differential alarm mechanism. When a temperature abnormality below ambient temperature or a temperature rise above a threshold is detected, it automatically triggers an emergency response, such as a gas leak or fire.
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In the field of drone monitoring
With the booming low-altitude economy , various new types of drones are emerging one after another, shifting from large, military, and expensive ones to civilian ones. The integration of infrared technology and drones is also constantly breaking through the limitations of traditional monitoring, helping the drone industry to achieve all-weather operations, high-precision perception, three-dimensional monitoring, and intelligent analysis and warning, realizing the important value of "eyes in the sky".
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In the field of consumer security
Driven by the continued advancement of infrared technology and the decline in the price of infrared thermal imaging modules , demand for hunting cameras continues to grow in overseas markets. Currently, in regions with a strong hunting culture and legal hunting practices, such as North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, demand for high-performance infrared hunting cameras is growing rapidly.
It can be said that the large-scale AI models developed this year are gradually being implemented in segmented tracks. Through the integration of AI algorithms and infrared technology, more intelligent target tracking and cloud-based data analysis can be achieved, which may further expand the application boundaries of the infrared industry.
02 The integration of infrared technology drives the industry to heat up
With the dual support of infrared and AI, infrared security technology will continue to develop rapidly in key areas such as full-domain perception fusion, edge intelligence upgrades, and sustainable design.
When infrared technology combined with terahertz, millimeter wave and visible light multispectral systems become the high-end security standard, solving monitoring blind spots in complex scenarios; when terminal devices have built-in stronger AI processing capabilities, achieving real-time analysis and response, and reducing cloud dependence; when low-power, self-powered, and self-maintaining systems become a rigid demand for terminal outdoor equipment, and 4G low-power solar energy functions penetrate into consumer security subcategories such as hunting or bird watching, more high-value-added products will usher in peak demand.
With the support of new technologies, many manufacturers are working hard to explore more application scenarios for infrared technology.
It is worth noting that the current global competition landscape in the infrared industry chain presents a " one superpower, many strong" situation. The North American market holds a large share of the global civilian infrared thermal imaging product market, while the European and Asian markets are experiencing rapid development.
The infrared industry is experiencing rapid development and, fueled by multiple technologies, is poised for a period of rapid growth. With declining hardware costs, the widespread adoption of AI analysis, and the deepening of multispectral integration, infrared security will expand from professional, high-end applications to a wider range of civilian applications, building a more reliable safety net for smart cities, critical infrastructure, and everyday life.