The current camera is quite bulky
A camera capable of creating images with "unprecedented detail" has been unveiled by US engineers.
The prototype machine - dubbed AWARE2 - is capable of of
taking pictures with resolutions of up 50 gigapixels, equivalent to
50,000 megapixels, according to the team from Duke University in North
Carolina.
It works by synchronizing 98 tiny cameras in a single device.
The machine is likely to be used first for military surveillance.
Undetected images
The camera was developed by a team led by engineer David Brady
and Michael J. Fitzpatrick, professor of Electric Engineering at Duke's
Pratt School of Engineering, along with scientists from the University
of Arizona, and the University of California.
They received funding from Darpa - the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
The prototype camera itself is two-and-half feet square and 20 inches deep.
"Each one of the microcameras captures information from a specific area of the field of view," Mr Brady said.
"A computer processor essentially stitches all this
information into a single highly detailed image. In many instances, the
camera can capture images of things that photographers cannot see
themselves but can then detect when the image is viewed later."
Getting smaller
Most consumer cameras currently on the market are capable of taking photographs ranging from eight to 40 megapixels.
Pixels are basically individual "dots" of data - and the higher the number of pixels, the better resolution of the image.
The researchers believe that within five years, as the
electronic components of the cameras become miniaturised and more
efficient, the next generation of gigapixel cameras should be available
to the general public.
"The camera is so large now because of the electronic control
boards and the need to add components to keep it from overheating," Mr
Brady said.
"As more efficient and compact electronics are developed, the age of hand-held gigapixel photography should follow."
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