Researchers Create 'See Through' Holographic Camera To Make Autonomous Cars Safer

Researchers have managed to create a powerful holographic camera that is able to see through objects like corners, fog and even humans reveals a new study.

Representational Image: Growly.io

Also Read: A Startup Just Received Rs 44 Crore Funding To Build The World's First True Holographic Display

Developed by researchers from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, it makes use of a technique dubbed synthetic wavelength holography. It works by reconstructing the path taken by a light beam as it spreads across various objects, bouncing off surfaces until the beam makes it back to the source, where it is registered by a detector.

An AI algorithm traces the path of the scattered light, allowing the viewer to see the world from the perspective of a remote surface, even if it¡¯s behind the camera¡¯s line of sight.

This field of research, dubbed Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) imaging, is quite nascent, however, the implementation of Northwestern researchers is far advanced as it¡¯s rapidly capturing full-field images at high resolution with submillimeter precision.

Northwestern University

Normally to successfully understand the imagery that¡¯s happening at the back, one needs a complex array of really fast detectors to register the image. However, researchers here have found a workaround, by using two lasers to generate a synthetic light wave that can register the entire field of vision of an object and create its entire 3D shape.

Also Read: From Driverless Cars To Holographic Ads, How 5G Will Roll Out And Disrupt Our Life Very Soon

And since it has got a high temporal resolution and fast response time (under 50 milliseconds), the camera could, at least theoretically, be able to image fast-moving objects like cars or people hidden behind a turn.

Florian Willomitzer, the first author of the study explains, ¡°This technique turns walls into mirrors. It gets better as the technique also can work at night and in foggy weather conditions.¡±

Northwestern University

This holographic imaging tech has several implementations -- it can be used to see through tissue, revealing a beating heart or internal organs or could even replace supplement endoscopes, helping doctors look inside in a non-invasive manner, resulting in a comfortable experience. The tech can also be used in self-driving cars, making them safer and preventing more accidents going forward.

Bosch

Also Read: A High-End Camera Company Is Making A $1,200 Smartphone With A 'Holographic Display'

The prototype made by the researchers uses IR light however, in theory, it can be reconfigured and extended to other frequencies for use in applications such as space exploration, or underwater imaging.

Willomitzer concluded stating, ¡°It¡¯s still a long way to go before we see these kinds of imagers built-in cars or approved for medical applications. Maybe 10 years or even more, but it will come.¡±

Keep reading Indiatimes.com for the latest science and technology news.