How a heat-seeking beetle inspired infrared tech that could aid Chinese defence
Golden Dome '.
The Chinese technology, which is capable of unprecedented detection speeds 20,000 times faster than conventional technology, was inspired by nature's most sensitive heat seeker – the fire beetle.
Infrared sensing technology is vital for detecting objects in challenging settings where smoke, fog or dust may obscure conditions. It provides clear imaging and accurate detection by penetrating these obstacles, making it essential for use in military and industrial applications.
Biological systems are also capable of perceiving motion in complex settings with minimal processing, inspiring new designs for optoelectronic devices.
The fire beetle, for instance, is equipped with a specialised pit organ on its thorax, allowing the insect to detect faint infrared radiation from forest fires hundreds of kilometres away even while flying at high speeds, an accuracy that surpasses the sensitivity of most commercial infrared detectors.
This unique organ evolved for reproduction: the residual heat from wildfires provides the necessary conditions for larvae to hatch from their thick-walled eggs, after which they feed on charred tree bark.
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