FLIR launches next-gen handheld thermal camera

FLIR has introduced the Ocean Scout Pro, a new marine handheld thermal camera designed for public safety professionals and mariners requiring enhanced situational awareness. The device features a 640 x 480 thermal detector, providing a 500-metre detection range and a 32-degree field of view.

The Ocean Scout Pro incorporates a streamlined interface that allows users to focus on targets without navigating complex menus. It includes one-touch button controls for zoom, mode selection, brightness adjustment and standby functions. A wireless app enables image and video management with simple file transfer. The device is designed to operate in extreme conditions, with a 2-metre drop resistance, an IP67 rating for water and dust protection and a six-hour battery life. It can be charged using a USB Type-C connector or a power bank.

The camera offers four video colour palettes for optimised viewing in different conditions. The white hot palette displays warmer objects in white and cooler objects in black, while the black hot palette inverts these colours for a more lifelike appearance. The sepia palette applies a warm, golden hue to reduce eye strain during extended use, and the heat palette highlights the warmest 10 per cent of a scene in orange and yellow tones, assisting in detecting people or animals in the water.

“Our decades of R&D and pioneering innovation in thermal imaging have culminated in the development of the rugged, effective and accessible Ocean Scout Pro,” says Grégoire Outters, general manager of FLIR Maritime. “Whether you are a professional or recreational mariner, the ability to see a person in the water, even in no-light situations, can be the difference between life and death. The true innovation is putting this intuitive and feature-rich technology into a product at an attractive price point that every boater and marine law enforcement officer should have on board.”

The Ocean Scout Pro is compact, with a pocket-friendly exterior. It is supplied with a carrying case featuring a diagonal zipper and Molle-compatible attachment system for secure transport and easy access.

The Flir Ocean Scout Pro is available for $2,395.

Teledyne acquires FLIR for approx $8billion 5 January 2021

Teledyne FLIR, a brand owned by American digital imaging giant Teledyne Technologies, the parent company of Raymarine, develops intelligent sensing systems, unmanned solutions and integrated technologies for defence and industrial applications. Founded in 1978, the company has approximately 4,000 employees worldwide. Teledyne acquired FLIR in 2021 in a deal worth around US$8bn.