Stream digital, radiometric thermal data in real-time to your environment – with ThermalCapture Grabber USB

With the add-on ThermalCapture for Tau 2 cores, engineers from the German company TeAx Technology created a solution, which allows to store radiometric thermal data from Tau 2 cores. For other use cases, rather “streaming” than “storing” is an actual or preferred solution. With that in mind, TeAx engineers created another ‘family member’ to the ThermalCapture series – ThermalCapture Grabber USB.

With ThermalCapture Grabber USB, clients are now able to stream full radiometric, 14 bit raw data from Tau 2 cores straight to data processing units, such as embedded systems, stationary computers or others. “We received a lot of requests from our clients all over the world, wondering, if a streaming solution would be possible based on our reliable product line ThermalCapture – and our clients know, that the answers to their technical problems from TeAx side always is and will be ‘yes, we can – it is possible with us’. And that’s when we started to develop another success story.” Markus Ax, CEO of TeAx Technology says.

Another great part of ThermalCapture Grabber USB is, that it comes with a comprehensive and open SDK: The Mac OS X, Linux and Windows SDK makes access to full 14-bit radiometric and non-radiometric raw data very easy. Additionally the serial configuration interface of the TAU core can be accessed during raw data transfer. The SDK is open source to allow an easy porting to different hardware platforms.

Areas of applications for ThermalCapture Grabber USB:

There are various applications for ThermalCapture Grabber USB – especially in combination with unmanned systems (drones). Most relevant applications are for example in:

Overview on ThermalCapture Grabber USB:

Thermal Unmanned Systems – All-in-one solutions from TeAx

Since TeAx Technology is a system integrator by heart, of course full solutions are being available to clients. Speaking for ThermalCapture Grabber USB, the solution can be placed with aerial or ground unmanned systems (drones). Since TeAx Technology is an independent company, the team can perfectly consult its clients on their actually needs and will find solutions for their challenges.

Service & Support

For TeAx Technology clients and their request are taken seriously. No matter what it is, the team is always listening carefully and is supporting where it can. This is appreciated by clients from all over the world: Feel free to read a use case and testimonial from John Wolcott, who runs a company Industrial Aerobotics in the US.

Contact & Further Information

Contact us today and receive further information on ThermalCapture Grabber USB and related (drone) solutions we can provide to you.

About TeAx Technology – A Leading Edge System Integration High-Tech Company
TeAx Technology provides application specific solutions in hardware and software. Expertise are embedded systems and remote sensing. The focus is on development and integration of special payloads for (commercial, professional) drones. For general development and projects on integration to PC software and embedded systems, TeAx Technology convinces through customized solutions and individual advice.

The scientists at the Ljungberg Lab at the Swedish University of agricultural Sciences in Umeå went for a two day field excursion to test thermal cameras and new drones. Joining the students at the Fire Management course at the Forest faculty, who were going to make a prescribed burning of a 20 ha clear-cut. The scientists wanted to test their Solo helicopter drone from 3Drobotics and also wanted to capture thermal video and images. They also wanted to test the thermal camera in their fixed wing Smartplane drone.

Synchronized video streams

Fusion Of Thermal And RGB Camera

Fusion Of Thermal And RGB Camera Side By Side

See all photos

Credits

Thanks to TeAx client The Remote Sensing Division at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, www.rslab.se / www.rslab.se/2016/06/22/slus-drones-goes-thermal/

Due to ambitious students from University of Bremen (Germany) and their Fire Safety Research Experiment, ThermalCapture also made it to space for special researches. The whole experiment is based on the German-Swedish student programme REXUS/BEXUS. The REXUS/BEXUS programme is organized in cooperation between the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB) and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The goal of this experiment is to test surface structured PMMA samples and those with different core materials in microgravity and compare the results to terrestrial findings. In order to enable it, a module is designed containing compressed air bottles, combustion chambers and an IR-Camera amongst others. The recordings will be stored on a flashdrive for post flight analysis. The objective is to validate how the terrestrial investigations (1g) differ from those in microgravity (0g).

Video of rocket launch

The video shows the rocket launch in March 2016 up in Sweden.

Thermal data, stored in space with ThermalCapture

The videos show the flame and its behaviour up in space. Its thermal data were stored with the help of ThermalCapture. The gained information are now part of three Master Thesis, written by the research team.

Images of setup

Further information

• The REXUS/BEXUS programme
• The Experiment

ThermalCapture MiniAV – if size and weight do matter

Previously introduced as “World’s smallest LWIR Drone” (see press release), TeAx Technology used a small consumer drone as a technical demonstrator for its super lightweight ThermalCapture MiniAV. The ThermalCapture MiniAV is a fully functional thermal camera with analog video out. The weight is only 5g (0.01 lbs) on the complete solution, which provides a resolution of 160 x 120 px.

Video Of Technical Demonstrator

“Offering clients worldwide with reliable thermal imaging technology for drones as one part of our business lanes, we typically provide solutions from the market leader Flir – especially since the Vue / Pro / R series were available”, Stefan Thamke, one of the CEO’s of TeAx Technology, says. “However, being one of Europe’s leading edge unmanned system integrators, we couldn’t withstand the challenge to create a significant smaller solution for the drone industry, where every little extra weight counts”, Thamke carried on.

ThermalCapture MiniAV is being sold successfully worldwide again and is available as OEM version or “ready-to-use” with a housing.

Areas of applications for ThermalCapture MiniAV

There are various applications for ThermalCapture MiniAV. Most relevant applications are for example in:

Overview on ThermalCapture MiniAV:

Thermal Unmanned Systems – All-in-one solutions from TeAx

Since TeAx Technology is a system integrator by heart, of course full solutions are being available to clients. Speaking for ThermalCapture MiniAV, the solution can be placed with aerial or ground unmanned systems (drones). Since TeAx Technology is an independent company, the team can perfectly consult its clients on their actually needs and will find solutions for their challenges.

Service & Support

For TeAx Technology clients and their request are taken seriously. No matter what it is, the team is always listening carefully and is supporting where it can. This is appreciated by clients from all over the world: Feel free to read a use case and testimonial from John Wolcott, who runs a company Industrial Aerobotics in the US.

Contact & Further Information

Contact us today and receive further information on ThermalCapture MiniAV and related (drone) solutions we can provide to you.

About TeAx Technology – A Leading Edge System Integration High-Tech Company
TeAx Technology provides application specific solutions in hardware and software. Expertise are embedded systems and remote sensing. The focus is on development and integration of special payloads for (commercial, professional) drones. For general development and projects on integration to PC software and embedded systems, TeAx Technology convinces through customized solutions and individual advice.

ThermalCapture 2.0

ThermalCapture 1.0

FLIR Vue™ Pro R

Radiometric drone camera for accurate airborne temperature measurements

The new Vue Pro R from FLIR gives both drone operators and certified thermographers the power to gather accurate, non-contact temperature measurements from an aerial perspective. Every still image the Vue Pro R saves contains accurate, calibrated temperature data embedded in every pixel, adding even more value to your sUAS operations and services than ever.

Keeping the same industry-leading thermal imaging quality, interfaces, and capability as the best-selling Vue Pro, the Vue Pro R adds fully radiometric data-gathering to sUAS applications as diverse as building and roof inspections, power grid inspections, infrastructure analysis, precision agriculture, and public safety.

Order now Details

Now available

The Vue Pro R is now available at TeAx Techology. All models are on stock and ready to be delivered.

Make the most out of your thermal vision devices – make them smart!

“Knowledge is power.” Under this slogan, high-tech company TeAx Technology from Germany is providing again another powerful solution in the field of thermal vision:

Intelligent thermal cameras.

Based on its successful product line ThermalCapture (TC Storage, TC Grabber, TC MiniAV), TeAx Technology created a proof of concept (POC) to demonstrate how easy and cost effective a processing computing power unit can be provided. For the POC a Tau 2 core, ThermalCapture Grabber USB and a preconfigured Raspberry Pi 3 (incl. 32GB SD-card) were being used. This kind of solution approach enables clients of TeAx to make the most out of their radiometric thermal data: allowing to apply smart algorithms to it. “Most of our worldwide clients do benefit from those kind of solutions as it helps them to use their data and convert them into useful knowledge”, Stefan Thamke, CEO of TeAx Technology says. And he continues: “Next to either apply smart algorithms in real-time or later in the post processing, we help to define and develop smart algorithms together with our clients, if they can’t.”

The mission for TeAx Technology is, to empower their clients with efficient and intelligent (thermal) solutions. Because TeAx understood: “Knowledge is power.” Let TeAx help you to empower your data into valuable knowledge for your business.

The proof of concept

As the video demonstrates, even small algorithms can establish powerful tools, such as detecting automatically if temperatures rises – although they probably shouldn’t: For example and as seen as in the video, suddenly, there is a car and people on the field, which were not supposed to be there. Automatically, an alert is visually triggered to the pilot on his base station – which could be a control room as well.

Bottom line: Having the full digital radiometric thermal data stream available (due to ThermalCapture Grabber USB), TeAx engineers will be capable of creating intelligent algorithms based on your scenarios and its requirements. Also, due to TeAx’s powerful open-source SDK everyone is able to implement their own C++ based solution.
Be smart and make the most out of your technology.

Key components and related costs

The key components are based on a (radiometric) Flir Tau 2 core. ThermalCapture Apps can be applied to the full digital, radiometric data stream, provided by ThermalCapture Grabber USB. Contact us for further information on ThermalCapture Apps.

Who should be using intelligent thermal cameras?

An intelligent thermal camera from TeAx is the perfect tool for any businesses within

• Industrial inspection
• Research projects
• Security / surveillance operations and
• Agriculture monitoring

However, intelligent thermal cameras are not limited by these fields of applications and with their cost effective components, they become a relevant solution for small business up to big enterprise businesses.

Why should one use intelligent thermal cameras?

A solution like an intelligent thermal camera from TeAx will not replace a human being. However, in rather intensive operational moments where a lot of information are gathered, an intelligent tool is a great asset to support an operator.
In order to make sure that operators receive all relevant information from areas they need to inspect or protect, information is already filtered by smart algorithms. This saves a lot of time since only relevant information is presented to the operator.

How to get started?

How can TeAx help you bring intelligence to your thermal environment?

1. Getting started with thermal vision
   There is nothing in place, yet you are in the need of a thermal solution. Of course, TeAx can provide you with a complete, holistic solution for your environment – be it for unmanned vehicles or permanent installations. Be it for real-time processing or post-processing. Be it for special environments where special integration is required or rather “standard” environments.
2. Add TeAx ThermalCapture series
   If a (radiometric) thermal sensor – such as a Tau 2 core – is in place already, TeAx can easily bring you to the next level based on their ThermalCapture series and computing power units. On top of that, algorithms can be either developed/integrated from TeAx side or from a client on their own.
3. Individual development
   Being one of the leading unmanned system integrators, TeAx obviously provides high-level experts in both, hard- and software engineering. This being said, if a client requires individual solution approaches, TeAx engineers create the right solution for it – in time and function.

“Knowledge is power”. Are you ready to empower your environment? Contact us today to learn more.

About TeAx Technology – A Leading Edge System Integration High-Tech Company

TeAx Technology provides application specific solutions in hardware and software. Expertise are embedded systems and remote sensing. The focus is on development and integration of special payloads for (commercial, professional) drones. For general development and projects on integration to PC software and embedded systems, TeAx Technology convinces through customized solutions and individual advice.

You want to use thermal imaging technology on your drone but you are uncertain about what available solutions would fit best for you?
We at TeAx created a drone thermal camera comparison sheet to help you out with this. We provide an overview on capabilities for FLIR Vue, FLIR Vue PRo, FLIR Vue Pro R, FLIR Tau 2 + VPC, ThermalCapure MiniAV and ThermalCapture (add on for Tau 2).

The PDF can be downloaded here

ThermalCapture 2.0 – USB Driver Installation

Finally on the market: Homogeneous stitching for thermal mapping

TeAx Technology, an innovative drone tech company focusing also on thermal drone solutions, is now providing a smart way of stitching thermal images. Why this has been an issue so far – explained and made transparent in the following.

The problem: Shutter events to perform flat-field-correction (FFC event)

“When it comes down to thermal imaging, people often use the term “FFC event” or “shutter event”. They refer back to the so called “flat-field-correction” (FFC) process, a process to re-calibrate a thermal core while using it.”, Stefan Thamke, CEO of TeAx Technology, explains. And he continues, “This method is extremely helpful to make sure, thermal data remain within a defined range of temperatures”.

As useful as the FFC event is, it also provides a challenge for all, who aim for accurate thermal mapping – without temperature changes due to shutter / FFC event, which partly leads to wrong results. For all, who want and have to achieve homogeneous stitching results for thermal mapping, TeAx Technology now offers the solution for that.

The solution: Right hardware and right post-processing

“We at TeAx Technology received so many requests from clients all over the world, facing unprecise thermal maps after they have been stitching raw thermal data”, Stefan Thamke, recaps. “For us, being dedicated to optimal results, that simply was in-acceptable and we therefore came up with our solution approach. It is good to see that clients now do have a way of creating thermal maps without any false temperature jumps” Thamke continued.

And in fact, TeAx’s solution “ThermalCapture 2.0” (based on a Tau 2 core) automatically detects FFC events while it is recording the radiometric data stream to a microSD card. It also measures the internal temperature of the camera at the same time. With both temperature information, an automated adjustment of the stored temperature within the post-processing is being performed.

Also, the collected thermal data is automatically stored and prepared by TeAx’s ThermalCapture 2.0 in a way that 3rd party mapping tools, such as Pix4D (www.pix4d.com), Agisoft (www.agisoft.com) or others, can process the thermal, geo-referenced data just seamlessly and convert them into required (thermal) maps or other required models.

More videos on our youtube channel.

“This is the base for homogeneous stitching for thermal mapping as there are no longer any “jumps” of temperatures. We as TeAx Technology are very happy that there finally is a solution available and already a few clients came back to us and stated great success using our method.”, Thamke says.

Thermal Mapping as a service – Use TeAx Technology

TeAx Technology proofed itself as a reliable partner and holds strong knowledge in the field of thermal imaging technology. Furthermore and quite obviously, TeAx also created a very strong knowledge and experience when it comes down to thermal mapping.

The workflow is as simple as writing an email: Just provide TeAx with either a .TMC-file (these are recordings from ThermalCapture) or a file, provided by Vue Pro R (note: no correction for FFC shutter event possible!) and send them by email or use our FTP server to upload. Just contact us for further information.

TeAx supports its clients in the whole process chain:

• Preparation on how to record thermal data with your own drone system
• How to ideally perform on the flight (route, overlap settings, other useful configurations and settings)
• Data processing, data visualization
• Assessment and analyses of the (stitched) thermal data
• Feedback on potential improvements

Contact us today, if you have any further questions on this by using our contact form on this website. Thank you.

About TeAx Technology – A Leading Edge System Integration High-Tech Company
TeAx Technology provides application specific solutions in hardware and software. Expertise are embedded systems and remote sensing. The focus is on development and integration of special payloads for (commercial, professional) drones. For general development and projects on integration to PC software and embedded systems, TeAx Technology convinces through customized solutions and individual advice.

The bar has been raised up by TeAx Technology – again: Today, the company is publicly announcing its latest product ThermalCapture Fusion, a powerful and perfectly aligned dual camera solution to store both, thermal and visual data from its sensors. ThermalCapture Fusion: The new standard in the thermal drone industry.

Finally, an independent and lightweight dual camera for commercial drone operations

“Small commercial drones were missing out on a solution of a perfectly aligned dual camera, which connects both, the thermal and the visual world professionally together”, Markus Ax – CEO of TeAx Technology – starts to explain. “Until today, approaches from the market were rather self-made workarounds then appropriate solutions. We at TeAx Technology took the time to design and engineer a proper and lightweight solution. The goal was to create a payload, being available and compatible with most small drones operating in the market” Ax continued.

Preview on first footage:

ThermalCapture Fusion: Technically Leading. Again.

Already in 2013, TeAx Technology’s first product – ThermalCapture – created a completely new market for thermal drone operators worldwide. And the engineers from TeAx are about to do it again: “With ThermalCapture Fusion, TeAx Technology is going to be the new leader for professional thermal drone operations”, Ax says. “The first beta tester were impressed with the outcome of this new device, especially with the perfectly aligned thermal- and visual data”, Ax continued and added with a smile “Once you experienced a ThermalCapture solution, there is no way you would want to go back again”.

Overview On Technical Specifications

Enables professional thermal & visual data collection. Regardless the drone system.

Whilst ThermalCapture Fusion was developed with the goal of being a completely stand-alone and flexible drone payload, another major upside is its drone compatibility: ThermalCapture Fusion was also designed to be compatible with the most (commercial) small drones being used out there. It basically comes down to a total weight of 130g / 0.28lb (excluding a gimbal).

Any drone system on the global market, which has the capacity to lift that amount of weight will be able to carry a ThermalCapture Fusion.

Powerfully interfaced with relevant processing capacities

To capture and store thermal + visual data in a reliable way is one thing. To process it properly – especially in a client’s environment – is a totally different story. Since TeAx Technology became a trusted partner for the global thermal drone world, it of course provides interfaces to the leading, post-processing systems next to TeAx’ own solution, ThermalViewer:

Your solution or post-processing tool is not listed yet? Don’t worry, since TeAx Technology is completely independent and is developing everything on its own, we can very easily interface with your environment. Get in contact with us to find out more.

Future proven. Smart investment.

If we understood one thing over the past few years: Technology evolves very quickly. We, at TeAx Technology, love to see this as we get challenged by the market on an everyday bases. And the most benefiting group out of this are our clients.
In order to make sure that clients of TeAx Technology are investing smart into their equipment, we design and develop hard- and software in a way, that it is future proven. In other words, once invested into TeAx Technology solutions, clients will always benefit from new features provided e.g. by firmware updates. And even in case new hardware will be released, it will be made available easily and with very special conditions for existing clients of TeAx.

Enhanced (commercial) drone applications, with twice, fully aligned information.

Since ThermalCapture Fusion is targeting professional drone operators worldwide, the most relevant applications will be within Industrial Inspections, GIS / Mapping, Security & Surveillance and Research & Development. Attached to a drone platform it provides both, a live view for thermal and visual sensors as well as the capability to store both data streams in an accurately aligned way for further post-processing on a microSD card.

Key applications for ThermalCapture Fusion as we see it:

Industrial Inspections

>> Download Brochure for ThermalCapture
>> ThermalCapture Fusion – Product site
>> Please contact me, I have a question
>> Place a special feature request

ThermalCapture Fusion is an ideal tool for thermal drone inspections. With twice the information – thermal and visual – ThermalCapture Fusion provides relevant information, for instance for inspection of solar fields: The operator knows exactly, if the identified hotspot in fact is a broken cell or if there is “only” dirt on it. What a big difference that is!

With ThermalCapture Fusion, the operator has live view for both sensors (thermal + visual) during the operations but also has full access to the stored data on both, thermal and visual data, which are completely aligned in only one file for the post-processing. ThermalCapture helps do massively reduce time within post-processing.

Orders are accepted from now:

Order today

Thermal Mapping

>> Download Brochure for ThermalCapture
>> ThermalCapture Fusion – Product site
>> Please contact me, I have a question
>> Place a special feature request

Just recently, ThermalCapture 2.0 demonstrated impressively, what it can achieve within drone thermal mapping. With ThermalCapture Fusion, there now is an additional tool performing on the job – with even visual data on top. With twice the information – thermal and visual – ThermalCapture Fusion provides relevant information in case they are needed.

With ThermalCapture Fusion, the operator has live view for both sensors (thermal + visual) during the operations but also has full access to the stored data on both, thermal and visual data, which are completely aligned in only one file for the post-processing. ThermalCapture helps do massively reduce time within post-processing.

Orders are accepted from now:

Order today

Research & Development

>> Download Brochure for ThermalCapture
>> ThermalCapture Fusion – Product site
>> Please contact me, I have a question
>> Place a special feature request

ThermalCapture Fusion is an ideal tool for research and development tasks based on thermal drones. With twice the information – thermal and visual – ThermalCapture Fusion provides relevant information where it is needed.

And the best part: With ThermalCapture Fusion, the operator has live view for both sensors (thermal + visual) during the operations but also has full access to the stored data on both, thermal and visual data, which are completely aligned in only one file for the post-processing. ThermalCapture helps do massively reduce time within post-processing.

Orders are accepted from now:

Order today

Security & Surveillance

>> Download Brochure for ThermalCapture
>> ThermalCapture Fusion – Product site
>> Please contact me, I have a question
>> Place a special feature request

ThermalCapture Fusion is the perfect tool for thermal drone security and surveillance missions. With twice the information – thermal and visual – ThermalCapture Fusion provides mission critical information to the people in real time, whenever and wherever it is needed.

With ThermalCapture Fusion, the operator has live view for both sensors (thermal + visual) during the operations but also has full access to the stored data on both, thermal and visual data, which are completely aligned in only one file for the post-processing.

Orders are accepted from now:

Order today

About the manufacturer

About TeAx Technology – A Leading Edge System Integration High-Tech Company
TeAx Technology provides application specific solutions in hardware and software. Expertise are embedded systems and remote sensing. The focus is on development and integration of special payloads for (commercial, professional) drones. For general development and projects on integration to PC software and embedded systems, TeAx Technology convinces through customized solutions and individual advice.

ThermoViewer 2.0. Enabling commercial thermal drone operations.

With the launch of its new dual RGB/thermal camera ThermalCapture Fusion (read press release), TeAx Technology just announced its latest software upgrade for ThermoViewer, the brand new version 2.0. The free software provides a straight forward approach for post-processing of stored thermal data based on ThermalCapture products. With the software version 2.0 now being available, ThermoViewer is capable of post-processing fully aligned RGB and thermal raw data – out of one file only.

It never has been any easier and less time consuming for operators within thermal business. Just import your data, run temperature measurements per pixel (or other analyzes) and finally export relevant data to your report. And whenever you need to run even more extensive thermal analyses, benefit from ThermoViewers unique interface to FLIR Tools and just do it, seamlessly.

Video introduction on ThermoViewer 2.0:

ThermoViewer: Flexible and scalable as you need it

ThermoViewer is compatible with ThermalCapture Fusion and ThermalCapture 2.0 hardware. Apart from the fact that the software is freely available, clients also benefit from new features being released continuously over time. And since TeAx is the sole developing company behind it, every feature request from clients is being considered and usually implemented – for the benefit of all global customers.

What ThermoViewer is providing to you

Download ThermoViewer 2.0 And Test Data For Free

About the manufacturer

About TeAx Technology – A Leading Edge System Integration High-Tech Company
TeAx Technology provides application specific solutions in hardware and software. Expertise are embedded systems and remote sensing. The focus is on development and integration of special payloads for (commercial, professional) drones. For general development and projects on integration to PC software and embedded systems, TeAx Technology convinces through customized solutions and individual advice.

ThermalCapture Fusion – Users Manual

ThermalCapture Fusion – Configurations Manual

ThermalCapture Fusion – V 1.1.2