The Future of Artificial Vision
Imaging Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) He's going through an epochal transformation. A technology historically confined to niche sectors as defence and aerospace is now emerging as a strategic solution for high-impact sectors, including automotive, industrial automation and consumer electronics.
Thanks to its ability to "see beyond the visible", the SWIR improves artificial vision in difficult conditions—fog, rain, poor lighting—enabling new features in safe, diagnostic and quality control. The market reflects this evolution: evaluated $322 million in 2022, is intended to exceed 800 million by 2028, with a Annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.3%. However, the real turning point will be its integration into Emerging applications, as automotive and consumer electronics, which could generate over $2 billion in the same period.
But what are the factors that are driving this growth? And how Eye4NIR is revolutionising the sector with an innovation that could make SWIR widely accessible?
1. From Consolidated Applications to New SWIR Frontiers
A) Defence and Industry: the roots of growth
SWIR imaging is already a well-established technology in areas where advanced vision is an operational need. The defence and surveillance, the technology is used for night vision, target designation and advanced monitoring, with increasing demand due to global geopolitical tensions. The manufacturing, SWIR sensors are used for quality inspections and control of industrial processesFrom optical selection of materials diagnostic silicon wafers and lithium batteries. Theprecision farming It benefits from crop monitoring and optimised water management.
The potential of SWIR in these areas is already evident: Sony and Teledyne have successfully implemented this semiconductor inspection technology, reducing waste by 30% in relation to traditional techniques.
B) Automotive: a new dimension of safety
Integration of the SWIR into Advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and driver monitoring (DMS) It is one of the most promising developments. Today, 25% of road accidents is caused by poor visibility, with a higher economic impact than EUR 100 billion per year in Europe. The SWIR can revolutionise the sector thanks to:
- Enhanced vision in adverse weather conditions (rain, fog, night), where visible systems fail,
- Advanced driver monitoring, detecting fatigue and distraction with greater precision,
- Greater safety for self-driving, providing complementary data to LiDAR and radar.
The initial adoption will be Premium vehicles, with a progressive expansion towards mass segment post-2030.
C) Consumer Electronics: the jump to everyday use
Apple has already taken its first steps in integrating SWIR into its products. SWIR sensors present in the AirPods and iPhone 14 Pro allow more accurate skin recognition than NIR sensors. Future developments could include:
- Replacement of NIR sensors in facial recognition systems, improving precision and safety.
- Integration into AR/VR headsets, offering more advanced and stable tracking in real environments.
- New smartphone applications, with cameras able to identify materials and depth with more detail.
This transition is still in its infancy, but big techs are already testing integration scenarios that could make SWIR a standard technology in the consumer market.
2. Eye4NIR: Democratising the SWIR with the Germanium-on-Silicon
If the potential of the SWIR is so high, why is its adoption still limited? The main obstacle is the high sensor cost, traditionally based on Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs), which made them prohibitive for consumer applications.
Eye4NIR is changing the rules of the game with a solution based on Germanium-on-Silicon (Ge-on-Si), a technology that offers:
- Cost reduction up to 200 times compared to current InGaAs sensors.
- Compatibility with CMOS production, making it scalable to the mass market.
- High performance in low visibility, with ideal applications for automotive, safety and industrial automation.
This innovation could be the turning point for SWIR, similar to CMOS sensors in the smartphone sector.
The Future of SWIR imaging
The SWIR is ready to transform from niche technology to standards for strategic sectors, redefining the concept of artificial vision. Eye4NIR is driving this transition with a combining approach scalability, performance and economic sustainability.
If the trajectory followed by the SWIR reflects that of CMOS sensors in smartphones, we will see a revolution in how machines and devices perceive the environment, with implications ranging from intelligent mobility to security, robotics and advanced material analysis.