SOLOvision 'ex-SAS' imager on eBay Australia

[Ultrapurple]

Can anyone say anything about this item in Australia eBay auction: #153340802459? It is described as an ex-SAS 640x480 system and appears to consist of a compact goggle-style imager and a battery pack (plus various accessories).

Selected images from the listing:







The sample videos posted on YouTube aren't very impressive, looking to me more like 320x240-class, but that could well be down to the recording device.










Our friend the Internet Archive has copies of their website, which make interesting reading - not least because of their relatively diverse range of products.


According to Companies House, GB Solo Limited ran from 1996 to 2015. I'm not good enough at reading company accounts to work out how successful the business may have been, but my interpretation suggests it doesn't appear to have been a FLIR-scale enterprise.

Any thoughts on the device, or does anyone know anything else about this company and its products?

[panzer04]

I doubt the YouTube resolution is doing those videos any favours either - letterboxed too.

[Bill W]

The camera is likely to be of ISG parentage.

GB Solo were mainly a helmet company, did a lot of those full head helmets for fire and also Formula 1.  Most allowed for torches to be fitted and so some also had thermal cameras.

GB Solo initially worked with EEV on their helmet camera http://www.fire-tics.co.uk/4444.htm
The EEV relationship sold around 100, mostly to cruise ships, but no-one was willing to stump up the funds for a fully injection moulded production grade camera.

GB-Solo then worked with ISG on several of their hands-free fire cameras, and were involved in the GRP case mouldings for the Talisman / K-90 series of tube / Raytheon BST cameras.

ISG did both a 'in helmet' and 'on helmet' camera with GB-Solo, and a venture into military units as you have linked does not surprise me.

The company was fairly shaky and had several reincarnations.  They are now 'Halo Thermal imaging' in the Darlington area
http://www.halothermalimaging.co.uk/


regards
Bill

[Ultrapurple]

Thanks Bill a very interesting and concise history.

Looking at the soloTI photos on the Halo site I can see the family resemblance to the EEV helmet from all those years ago.

It's interesting to see that the images of the Aura appear to show a physically very small front element in the lens and yet the brief product specs claim <16mK thermal sensitivity. That's quite an achievement for an uncooled camera even with a f/1.0 lens.

[Bill W]

It's interesting to see that the images of the Aura appear to show a physically very small front element in the lens and yet the brief product specs claim <16mK thermal sensitivity. That's quite an achievement for an uncooled camera even with a f/1.0 lens.

You are assuming that 'thermal sensitivity' might mean NETD, I would suspect it does not. 
Does that look like a 16mK image ? 
It is a straight FLIR core in a box, no magic.

Better datasheet, different 'thermal sensitivity'....
https://www.resmar-safety.co.uk/Datasheets/Halo-aura-SAR.pdf

Seems it can change colour mode, zoom, takes pictures and turn on and off with only one button 


regards
Bill

[Ultrapurple]

Yes, <16mK did seem a bit optimistic; <50mK looks much more reasonable.

Interesting to note, though, the datasheet specifies a 35mm lens, and a FOV that suggests 35mm focal length not diameter (or whatever else Marketing dreamed up). But the product shot looks as though the lens is much wider angle.

[Fraser]

If you search on the Aura camera you will see different pictures of it with very different lenses fitted.
They either offer lens FOV options or they have been using different cores in the chassis.

This URL has pictures of different lenses in use on the camera chassis.

http://www.twipu.com/HaloTI_

Fraser

[Ultrapurple]

Good spot, Fraser - in fact, two juxtaposed images there show the wide angle and narrow (large element) versions.

I can imagine having a pair of different versions on a trade stand - a 19mm FL on that sort of core is a bit narrow, whereas a demo with a wide FOV will give a better experience in the confined space of the show. Of course, the sales rep should make it clear what is being shown and offer both.