As the U.S. continues to increase its security at border crossings, airports, and other points of entry, biometrics will play an important role. SWIR cameras can help identify disguises at the border and therefore supplement security efforts.

Manufacturers of glass hollowware have long sought a way to pick out defective product at the hot end of their process, while the pieces are still above 200ºC. At that glass inspection stage, rejects are identified, then shunted aside and reprocessed efficiently, greatly reducing scrap.

Responding to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) has become the focus of U.S. Defense policy, and with that, the need for greater intelligence collection has moved upward in priority. Whereas past reconnaissance needs were more strategic in nature, today's needs are highly tactical, demanding a high level of persistence and the ability, in many cases, to identify individual humans in the field of interest. In recent years, the exceptional capabilities of short wave infrared (SWIR) technology have made SWIR the "Next Generation" of imaging technology for ground, airborne and space technology.

Innovative research and production of InGaAs material with high quantum efficiency (QE) and low dark current has made Sensors Unlimited a leading supplier of linear photodiode arrays for IR spectroscopy camera systems.

Contactless machine-vision inspection using photoluminescence (PL) imaging with shortwave infrared (SWIR) cameras can help solar cell producers improve both efficiency and quality of their photovoltaic products. Inspection of silicon bulk ingots, sliced wafers, processed layers, and complete photovoltaic cells is possible with SWIR imaging.

Multi-spectral electroluminescence and SWIR imaging can be used to separately inspect multi-junction uniformity and relative output.

By using the 1.05 µm central wavelength, instrumentation companies are now developing systems to image deeper through the retina into the blood vessel layer (called the choroid) to diagnose eye diseases and monitor treatment.

Flying a Sensors Unlimited 640HSX InGaAs SWIR camera, the GHGSat’s microSat circles the Earth every 90 minutes collecting infrared images. Data from the microSat will enable industries to monitor and quantify their own carbon dioxide and methane emissions to better manage and reduce their impact on air quality.