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MANAMA, Bahrain, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A revolutionary new optical technology modeled on the eyes of a tiny parasite will soon afford front-line troops better night vision. The digital device, worn over one eye and attached to a helmet, will allow soldiers to spot enemies out of the corner of their eyes without even moving their heads, say engineers of the British-based BAE systems company.
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The new "bug-eye" technology was developed after months of research focused on an examination of the eye mechanisms of the Xenos peckii, a tiny parasitic fly that lives insides the bodies of wasps.
The bug's visual system -- which is not found in any other living creature -- has 50 separated lenses in each eye, producing individual images that are then meshed together to form a single, wide-field image, BAE engineers said.
The new imaging device developed by BAE recreates this effect with nine separate lenses affording troops a peripheral vision of 60 degrees -- twice the level of night-vision goggles currently in use.
"There's a requirement to reduce the size and weight of night vision goggles -- and to achieve a wider field of view," said Leslie Laycock in a report published by Trade Arabia.
"Nighttime missions are an essential part of today's military operations, but existing equipment only provides 30-40 degree field of vision, which restricts situational awareness on the ground."
The research into new technology was funded by the Britain's Ministry of Defense with the aim of reducing the size and weight of imaging equipment used in a variety of military applications.
"Soldiers," said Laycock, "fight a lot at night."
Slated for completion within three years, the new "bug-eye" system is considered to have applications in improving the field vision for CCTV cameras.
It is now being developed for missile tracking systems.
"Existing missile guidance devices can only achieve about 20 degrees field vision," reported Trade Arabia. "This means that the camera has to be attached to a mechanical mount and swiveled around to scan wide areas."
Capable, also, of being fitted on helicopters, the new optical technology can provide a huge boost in battlefield operations.
In the future, said Trade Arabia, the system could be used in the medical field for keyhole surgery. This though will require scientists to shrink the device -- currently held in the palm of a hand -- even further.
