Abstract
The US Army’s Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, has for the past decade encouraged the transfer of its unique technology into the non-military community. Our scientists and engineers have developed a wide spectrum of devices that provide the military forces with such benefits as being able to “see” at night without being detected, the ability to accurately determine ranges and to designate targets. Although our objective has been to develop devices to enhance the combat effectiveness of the US Army, many of these night vision and electro-optical devices have a great potential for serving useful functions in the non-military community. Therefore, the technology behind these devices which are not classified may, as the need dictates, be transitioned into the private sector through technology transfer. It is the intent of this paper to provide an introduction to the nature of this technology and to illustrate by high-lighting selected spinoffs, the many uses of night vision and electro-optics which have been adapted by the non-military community.
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Bibliography
Literature concerning Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory technologies are represented by a vast spectrum of publications, technical and non-technical articles, reports and commercial data. It is appropriate to note two outstanding publications,The Infrared Handbook, andProceedings of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.The Infrared Handbook, William L. Wolf, editor, is published by the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C. This handbook offers the electro-optical community a ready reference for data, techniques and mathematical formulations. It is recommended for those scientists and engineers who require a rather comprehensive technical source. The Proceedings published by the Society, 405 Freldston Road, Bellingham, Washington 98225, provides invaluable articles of symposiums conoerning all aspects of Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory technology ranging from “Medical Imaging”, “Optics in Security and Law Enforcement”, “Low Light Level Devices for Science and Technology” to “Modern Utilization of Infrared Technology”. The Proceedings are less technical and are recommended for those individuals who are interested in a particular application. Listed below are a selection of technology transfer and Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory references.
“Department of Defense Technology Transfer Consortium: An Overview”, G.F. Linsteadt,The Journal of Technology Transfer, Vol.1, No.1, Fall 1976, pp 107–117.
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“Night Vision Equipment: Uses in Forestry”, H.J.Shields,Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, Vol. 24, Number 2, pp 201–202.
“Feeding Behavior and Food Habits of the Boat-Billed Heron”, J.O. Biderman and R. W. Dickerson,Biotropica 10(1): pp 33–37, 1978
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“Use of Night Vision Devices in Drug Interdiction”, S.F. Sobezynski,Proceedings of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, Vol. 108, April 77, pp 45–51.
“A Standard for Night Vision Devices for Law Enforcement”, J.D. Richmond,Proceedings of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, Vol.42, August 73, pp 109–115.
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He has been associated with the Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory for over twelve years.
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Fulton, R.W., Mason, G.F. Night Vision Electro-Optics technology transfer: A decade of activity. J Technol Transfer 7, 35–53 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02620348
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02620348