[HH] low-cost alternative to a thermal imaging camera

[Tom Metro]

Last March I wrote:
> The real question is why hasn't some manufacturer created a low-end
> thermal imager that employs this technique.
> 
> For example, you create a tool a bit larger than an IR thermometer,
> stick a cheap CCD camera into it, and a motorized mirror assembly in
> front of the IR sensor so it can scan the field of view. Stick in a
> micro to drive the scanner and composite the thermal data over the
> video. Add on an LCD for aiming and image preview, plus an SD card and
> USB port to get the images out of it. Presto, thermal imager for under
> $300. It'd be slow. You'd have to stick it on a tripod. Pros wouldn't
> want it, but you might sell enough to non-profit energy conservation
> groups and early adopters to get the price under $200, at which point
> you'd interest homeowners.

Fluke decided to build one of these:
http://www.fluke.com/fluke/usen/thermometers/Infrared-Thermometers/VT02-Visual-IR-Thermometer.htm?PID=75051

The particulars of how it works are a bit vague, but it does say that it
scans the field to produce a "heat map" overlaid on top of an image.

It retails for just under $900, which still isn't cheap, but a lot more
affordable than a $2000+ thermal imager.

The important bit is that someone built one commercially. If its
successful, it'll be cloned and cost reduced. In a few yeas they'll be
under $500.

 -Tom