Critical Need
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential impact 28X greater than CO₂ over a 100-year period. Methane is emitted into the atmosphere in the production and use of natural gas and crude oil. Infrared cameras are powerful tools to perform critical leak detection and repair in the energy production process, but current infrared cameras used for optical gas Imaging require cryogenic cooling, making them expensive ($100,000) and short-lived (one year) when used for fixed-position, continuous monitoring. Vyir’s technology provides better image quality and reduces camera size, weight, power, and cost.

Technology Vision
A typical infrared camera uses pixels fabricated from semiconductor materials that are electrically read out. These are expensive and low-resolution, preventing their adoption for promising applications. Vyir’s optical infrared camera uses pixels fabricated from its nano EnCoater technology that transduce the information from an infrared image into visible laser light and then uses a standard cell phone complementary metal-oxide semiconductor camera for optical readout. This approach enables a 10X reduction in price, reducing hardware size, weight, and power and enhancing pixels by 15X to provide better image quality.

Potential for Impact
Infrared cameras are versatile tools that enable the world to literally be seen in a different light. They enhance our awareness and lead to increased safety, resulting in reduced loss of life and property damage. What you don’t see may harm you. Threats on a battlefield can be identified by soldiers with infrared cameras, dangerous gas leaks in the petrochemical industry can be located from a safe distance and automobiles can see at night, through rain, and gain awareness of potential obstacles. Vyir’s vision is to make this technology universal.

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