On May 1, 2023, a small plane carrying four children and three adults crashed due to engine failure while flying over the Colombian Amazon rainforest. The three adults on the plane died instantly, while the four children disappeared into the dense jungle and lost contact with the outside world. Amazingly, the four indigenous children lived in the jungle for 40 full days, and with their survival skills and familiarity with the fruit, were finally found and successfully rescued by search and rescue teams on June 9. This is a touching story and a case that demonstrates the amazing role of night vision binoculars in search and rescue. So, what exactly are night vision binoculars? How does it work? What are its advantages and limitations in search and rescue? This article will introduce these aspects.
The principle and function of night vision binoculars
Night vision binoculars are an optical instrument capable of viewing objects in a dark environment that utilizes two technologies: image enhancement and thermal imaging. Image enhancement involves magnifying faint ambient light (such as moonlight, starlight, or infrared light) thousands of times to create a visible image. Thermal imaging involves converting the thermal radiation emitted by an object into a visible image, thus showing the difference in temperature of the object. Night vision binoculars usually consist of two monoculars, each with an objective lens, a microscope, and an electron tube. The electron tube is the central component of the night vision binoculars and is responsible for converting the incident light into an electrical signal, which is then converted into a visible image.
The main function of night vision binoculars is to provide a clear view in the dark, thus helping the user to perform activities such as observation, reconnaissance, navigation, search and rescue. Night vision binoculars come in a variety of models and specifications, and different models have different performance and uses. In general, night vision binoculars can be divided into four generations, from the first generation to the fourth generation, with gradually improving performance and increasing prices. The first generation was the first night vision binoculars to appear, which relied on ambient light and required the use of infrared illuminators to enhance the image. The first generation of night vision binoculars had poor image quality, low resolution, high distortion, and a short service life. The second generation is an improved night vision binocular based on the first generation, which uses a microchannel plate to amplify the electronic signal, thus improving image quality and resolution. Second generation night vision binoculars do not require the use of infrared illuminators, but are still dependent on ambient light. The third generation, which is the most commonly used night vision binoculars today, uses gallium phosphide as the photocathode material for the electron tube, thus greatly improving sensitivity and resolution. The third generation of night vision binoculars can work in very low light conditions and have a long service life. The fourth generation is the newest generation of night vision binoculars, which uses auto-gating technology to adjust the strength of the electronic signal, thus adapting to the observation needs under different lighting conditions. Fourth generation night vision binoculars can work in no light or too bright conditions and have the highest image quality and resolution.
Night vision binoculars in other search and rescue scenarios
In addition to the Amazon crash, night vision binoculars have played an important role in other search and rescue scenarios. For example, after disasters such as earthquakes, fires, and mountain disasters, night vision binoculars can help search and rescue personnel find survivors in the dark, determine their vital status, and determine rescue routes. Night vision binoculars can show the body temperature and breathing of survivors through thermal imaging technology, thus distinguishing between the living and the dead. Night vision binoculars can also show the outline of buried or obscured objects through image enhancement technology, thus helping search and rescue personnel to determine whether they are valuable or dangerous. Night vision binoculars can also be combined with other equipment, such as drones, satellites, and radar, to improve the efficiency and scope of search and rescue.
The challenges and development direction of night vision binoculars in search and rescue
Although night vision binoculars have an irreplaceable role in search and rescue, it also faces a number of challenges and limitations. First, the cost of night vision binoculars is high, the average person can hardly afford. In particular, the third and fourth generation of night vision binoculars, the price is often thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars, which is unaffordable for some poor or developing countries. Second, the use of night vision binoculars requires certain skills and experience, not everyone can be skilled. For example, the adjustment, maintenance and care of night vision binoculars require professional knowledge and operation. In addition, the use of night vision binoculars also need to comply with certain norms and laws, not to abuse or leak at will. For example, in some countries or regions, the use of night vision binoculars need to apply for permission or registration, otherwise it may be considered illegal detection or espionage activities.
Therefore, the direction of development of night vision binoculars in search and rescue is to reduce costs, improve performance, popularize skills, and standardize their use. Specifically, there are the following aspects: first, to strengthen scientific research and innovation to develop more advanced and cheaper night vision binoculars technology, such as the use of new materials, new electronic tubes, new algorithms, etc.; second, to strengthen education and training to improve the awareness and use of night vision binoculars by potential users and search and rescue personnel, such as the development of unified teaching materials, examinations, certificates, etc.; third, to strengthen cooperation and exchange Promote the sharing of night vision binoculars resources and experience exchange between different countries and regions, such as the establishment of international organizations, platforms, agreements, etc.; Fourth, to strengthen regulation and protection, develop reasonable rules and laws and regulations for the use of night vision binoculars to prevent their abuse or leakage, such as the establishment of oversight bodies, the development of punitive measures, etc.
