Tiny New Compound Camera Inspired by Bugs: The Future of Security Cameras?

Ever wanted to have a bugs-eye view of the world? A digital camera with a lens that very closely mimics the compound eye of arthropods in all respects - wide-angle field of view of nearly 160 degrees, low aberration, high sharpness of vision, and infinite depth of field - has been developed by a team of scientists from University of Illinois.

The new technology comprises of an array of 180 small lenses, which, along with their associated electronics, are stretched across a curved mounting, the researchers said in the journal Nature.

Each of the 180 elements is a separate imaging system with individual microlenses and microscale photodetectors. When working all together they can take a clear picture with a single snap and give a wide angle window on the world.

Currently, the prototype has only a few pixels, so its images are low-resolution.

The cameras can capture a 160-degree-wide field of view with nearly infinite depth of field, meaning all areas of the photo will be in focus.

"We feel that the insect world provides extremely impressive examples of engineering -- in the vision, flight, power and sensing systems. I, personally, have been intrigued by the insect eye for as long as I can remember," said professor John Rogers of the University of Illinois, who worked on the project.

So what's the purpose of having a bug-eyed view of the world? The development team believes its new imaging system could be used for security surveillance purposes or provide exceptionally high quality imaging during endoscopic procedures in hospitals.

Dr Jianliang Xiao, of Colorado Boulder University, said: 'A critical feature of our fly's eye cameras is they incorporate integrated microlenses, photodetectors, and electronics on hemispherically curved surfaces.

'To realise this outcome we used soft, rubbery optics bonded to detectors/electronics in mesh layouts that can be stretched and deformed, reversibly and without damage.'

He said the fabrication starts with electronics, detectors and lens arrays formed on flat surfaces using advanced techniques adapted from the semi-conductor industry.