China pushes facial recognition to the limit: a camera capable of identifying faces up to 100 kilometers away
A Technological Breakthrough with Strategic Implications
China continues to consolidate its leadership in technology. While many of its advancements have civilian applications, some reinforce its military and intelligence capabilities. A clear example is the new observation system developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
According to the South China Morning Post, this experimental system has achieved impressive results by allowing the observation of objects over 100 kilometers away with unprecedented precision. To achieve this, it is based on laser technology operating at optical wavelengths, which, under appropriate conditions, allows capturing details that were previously unreachable.
How the Long-Distance Observation System Works
In the tests conducted, researchers placed the system on the shore of Qinghai Lake, a vast alpine lake in northwest China. On the other side, at 101.8 kilometers away, they installed a set of reflective plates. Despite the great distance, the camera was able to distinguish details as small as 1.7 mm wide.
The secret to its precision lies in the use of a highly specialized laser. According to the researchers, this system can measure distances with a precision of 15.6 mm, surpassing by 100 times the capacity of spy cameras and conventional telescopes. However, for it to work correctly, weather conditions must be ideal: clear skies, low cloud cover, and stable winds.
Although it has only been tested on land so far, the report indicates that this technology could be crucial for espionage from space. Its ability to capture tiny details could allow for the identification of faces from space or, conversely, analyzing enemy satellites with unprecedented clarity.
Key Innovations Behind this Breakthrough
This system combines several technological improvements. One key aspect is the splitting of the laser beam into a 4×4 microlens array, which expanded the system’s optical aperture from 7.2 mm to 68.8 mm. With this technique, they were able to overcome the usual limitation between aperture size and field of view.
Additionally, they incorporated a module capable of emitting signals with frequencies exceeding 10 gigahertz. This allowed for extremely precise distance measurement resolution. A narrow color spectrum was also used to enhance azimuth resolution, optimizing detail detection.
This breakthrough could change the landscape of surveillance and security, opening up new possibilities in facial recognition and long-distance observation. The question now is how its use will be regulated and what its implications will be in the future.
Source: .
