A Few Interesting Facts About Night Vision Goggles

There is an undeniable fascination with night vision goggles in plenty of industries and you can find them across almost every form of media, including video games, movies, books, advertisements, etc. In this brief read, we will explore a few intriguing facts about these high-tech devices; how they work, the limits of their capabilities, their use in military operations, origins, how the technology stacks up against the vision of nocturnal animals, and more. With devices as complex and storied as these, there is a wealth of information to explore.

There are surprisingly few locations where one can purchase night vision goggles in South Africa. Luckily, with Futurama, you have a wide range of high-quality night vision devices to choose from. Beyond the full goggle kits from AGM, we stock monoculars, bi-oculars, thermal imaging devices, digital night vision equipment, and thermal drones – not to mention the vast selection of other goods we have available. Hopefully, this guide will provide you with some interesting information that you may not have known before.

The Invention Of Night Vision Goggles

The origins of night vision technology can be traced all the way back to the 1930s in Germany when a company called AEG, a producer of electrical equipment, developed an intriguing new device. This turned out to be the first recorded invention and use of a night vision device. Around the same time and drawing from the technology that the Germans were using, the US Military created its own iteration, known as the ‘sniper scope’.

As is usually the case with brand-new technology, these devices were rather basic and could only achieve a certain level of performance, hence their categorisation as “Generation 0”. They were hefty gadgets and required the user to carry a large IR illuminator that reflected off objects, eventually bouncing off far away objects and people and back into the device’s scope. This gave infantry a basic ability to see through the cover of night, but they severely limited movement – which is why they were only used in highly specialised operations.

As time went on, the US pioneered night vision technology and continuously brought out new and improved versions of these gadgets – making them smaller and lighter. When the war in Vietnam broke out, the technology had been drastically improved, and the resolution they could produce was significantly enhanced, making them a much more viable option for a wider range of military uses. Eventually, this led to the creation of passive Generation 2 devices that could function effectively even in extremely low-light conditions, with Generation 3 level advancements following into the 1980s.

If we are looking specifically at the invention of night vision goggles, it can be attributed to a Hungarian man by the name of Kalman Tihanyi. He also happened to be the first person to realise that infrared technology is one of the most efficient methods of seeing in the dark, which turned out to be one of the largest developments in this technology. A short while after World War II, these sorts of gadgets became available for commercial and civilian use, as before, they had been entirely limited to military applications.

AGM Global Vision Wolf-7 PRO NWi Gen 2+ Night Vision Goggle

As we usually do, we will offer a few recommendations from our online store as we go along. The AGM Global Vision Wolf-7 PRO is at the cutting edge of what night vision technology can achieve. It is manufactured using high-quality materials that will no doubt last for many years to come. Additionally, it is waterproof, designed for ultimate ease of use with intuitive controls, compact, lightweight, and comes with a powerful infra-red illuminator. The ergonomic design is comfortable, and easily allows for hours of uninterrupted use without discomfort. If you are searching for a versatile night vision solution, this might just be the perfect choice for you.

How Far Do Night Vision Goggles Allow You To See?

The answer to this question is quite heavily dependent on the quality of the night vision device and the strength of the IR illuminator used as well as the weather conditions – a starry night with lots of ambient light will give better performance than an overcast one, but a general rule of thumb is around the region of 300m as a maximum if everything plays together.

Another factor that would have an impact on this is whether the device uses optoelectronic image enhancement or digital image enhancement. The former picks up on infrared light that is reflected off objects and amplifies this light with the characteristic green or white hue (depending on if the unit employs a green or white phosphor plate).

Digital image enhancement is what most newer night vision technology has opted for, and it works by capturing any available light on a digital image sensor and then enhancing the images to provide a black and white image on your display. This newer form of night vision technology can be made to be lighter weight and smaller. The other benefit of this technology is that the images can be stored digitally and saved for viewing at a later stage.

How Do These Devices Compare To Night Vision In The Animal Kingdom?

As is the case with many new technologies, scientists and researchers originally got the idea for these devices by attempting to replicate nature. Once biologists realised that many animals were capable of seeing in the infrared spectrum, this opened the doors to the development and testing of our own versions of this impressive ability. Of course, it is incredibly tough to come close to the achievements of evolution, but as is our nature, we continue to try.

Many animals have adapted to be able to see in the dark over millennia and beyond this remarkable ability, it usually goes hand in hand with other heightened senses, like hearing and smell. So, how exactly do they do this, and why don’t they need goggles to achieve the same effect? Well, most nocturnal animals have an additional tapetum layer behind their retina. This layer acts as a second reflection point for the available light to bounce off, allowing the retinal cells a greater chance to magnify and collect information.

Human eyes pale in comparison, and this can mostly be put down to a lack of rod cells when compared to certain animals – like the owl. These rod cells are vital for catching very dim and scattered light. An owl has substantially more rod cells in their large eyes, allowing for greatly enhanced vision that is around 8-10 times better than that of humans. It isn’t only birds of prey and cats that have this ability, but also deep-sea fish and molluscs that can still make out images in near-total darkness.

Usually, in order to achieve some form of night vision, it becomes necessary to have colossal eyes, to gather as much light as possible in the darkness. Since we have already spoken about owls, their eyes take up more than half of their skulls, and this does have drawbacks. One of these limitations is that owls are not able to move their huge eyes within their sockets, in the way that humans and most other animals can, rather, they need to rotate their heads up 270 degrees to make up for this. If we had similar proportions to enable us to see in the dark, our eyes would need to be the size of apples, which would leave significantly less room for our brains – this may not be a worthwhile trade-off.

AGM FoxBat-5 NWi Night Vision Bi-Ocular, Long-Range Infrared Illuminator

If you are looking to get improved medium to long-range images, the AGM FoxBat-7 NWi is a fantastic option. The ingenious design combines a single white phosphor image intensifier tube with a dualised optical axis and double eyepiece – making it more than suitable for longer viewing sessions. It also comes with 5X magnification for long-range image capturing, a detachable infrared illuminator, fog and water resistance, and a hand and neck strap for ultimate comfort. The FoxBat also happens to be one of the more affordable gen 2+ options on the market, which only sweetens the deal further.

Factors To Consider When Purchasing Night Vision Goggles

While it is true that night vision devices have become substantially more affordable in recent years, they are still an investment. So, it makes sense to put some thought into which device might serve you the best and suit your preferences and budget. Let’s look at a few factors worth taking into consideration:

Manufacturer: As is the case with other pieces of equipment, it is crucial to consider who made the device – this is one of the most useful indicators of overall quality. Nowadays, many companies have tried their hand at developing their own night vision technology, with differing levels of success. Before deciding on a product, we suggest looking at customer reviews and doing some research into the reputation of said company. This way, you are unlikely to purchase a product with unsatisfactory performance or longevity.

Resolution: In basic terms, this parameter includes the device’s ability to display two close points or lines separately so that the eye can distinguish between them. Usually, the resolution is described in dashes per millimetre, with lower angular values indicating enhanced resolution. Of course, the resolution that you might require will depend on what you intend to use the goggles for – most people will not need top-of-the-line resolution.

Field Of View: While some models of night vision goggles are known as bi-oculars, they do not share a binocular’s ability to magnify an image. For this reason, it makes sense to consider the field of view of the specific device you are looking into. A lower field of view is not necessarily a disadvantage, as this can mean that image clarity and resolution are improved.

Weather Resistance: Again, this will depend on how and where you want to use your device. If you foresee that you will be heading into environments with changeable weather conditions, where rain and fog could be an issue, you will want to find a pair of night vision goggles that are capable of withstanding the elements. AGM tends to use superstructural plastic because it is waterproof and can handle heavy shock loads.

Night Vision Goggles: In Conclusion

Hopefully you have learned a thing or two about the fascinating technology incorporated into these high-tech devices. It can never hurt to be well-informed, and perhaps this guide has inspired you to consider looking into a pair of night vision goggles for yourself. Whether you are a professional or an enthusiast, there is no better team to turn to for all of your night vision needs than us, at Futurama!