Until recently, thermal-imaging camera systems built for yachts were extremely expensive. Both fixed and portable systems were mainly found on large yachts. The cameras work by detecting the amount of infrared light entering the lens and then converting this into an image that depicts degrees of heat in varying shades of colour. Unlike night-vision technology which enhances the light available, thermal cameras will work in absolute darkness.
The FLIR One fits in the palm of the hand. By using your smartphone as the screen, it’s the most compact thermal-imaging camera we’ve seen and packs away cleverly into a hard protective case that can be kept on a lanyard. However, the FLIR One isn’t waterproof.