Chasing Time: The Art of High-Speed Imaging
When Every Frame Counts – Inside High-Speed Cameras
Why the Human Eye Needs Help to See the Invisible
Have you ever wondered why a bird’s flapping wings look blurry to the naked eye? No matter how hard you try, your vision can’t keep up. The human eye processes roughly 60 images per second. Beyond that, motion appears blurred.
For centuries, humans have been fascinated by the idea of “stopping time” — capturing what lies beyond natural perception. A famous early example is Eadweard Muybridge, who used pioneering photographic techniques in the 1870s to study the locomotion of animals, especially horses (Wikipedia link).
From Film to High-Speed Digital
Since those early experiments, the fascination with slow motion has only grown. Early techniques ranged from synchronized still cameras to rotating prism film cameras capable of 1,000 frames per second. Today, high-performance digital cameras allow researchers, engineers, filmmakers, and factory maintenance teams to capture fast events at extreme frame rates and play them back in slow motion — revealing insights that would otherwise be invisible.
The AOS Story
Around the turn of the millennium, AOS Technologies was founded with a new vision: making high-speed cameras portable and autonomous. Instead of relying on bulky setups, AOS developed battery-operated systems that could store precious data directly in the camera. This innovation quickly made AOS cameras a de facto standard in onboard automotive crash tests.
Meanwhile, aerospace test engineers still relied on 16mm film cameras — proven, but slow. Film had to be developed before results could be analyzed, and the film supply itself was becoming obsolete. AOS responded by designing airworthy, MIL-certified cameras that could withstand vibration, shock, heat, and cold, while providing immediate video playback.
Reaching for the Stars
Another milestone came when an AOS camera was selected — after rigorous testing — for a research project aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The so-called “drop coal experiment” investigated how fluid droplets behave in microgravity. Such research is vital for long-duration space missions, from understanding how vaccines work in space to solving challenges of in-orbit refueling.
Capturing the Future
From early photographic experiments to modern space research, one goal remains the same: to capture fast events in slow motion and reveal what the human eye cannot see. At AOS Technologies, we are proud to carry that tradition forward — designing high-speed cameras that help researchers, engineers, and innovators unlock new insights every day.
Understanding High-Speed Cameras and Frame Rates
While ordinary cameras are designed to “fool the human eye” by displaying enough frames per second for the brain to perceive smooth motion - typically around 60 frames per second - there are countless natural and technical phenomena where this frame rate is far from sufficient.
For those with a technical background, the golden rule of measurement is well known: an event must be sampled at least twice the frequency at which it occurs to avoid misinterpretation. This principle, common in signal analysis using oscilloscopes, is often forgotten when recording fast-moving objects. In high-speed imaging, this rule applies directly - the higher the event frequency, the faster the camera’s frame rate must be.
At this point, most consumer-grade cameras reach their limits, and the world of high-speed imaging begins.
AOS Technologies is here to support you in analyzing your application and recommending the right frame rates, camera models, and lighting setups. Our credo is simple:
“We know what we can do — and we know where our limits are.”
Our promise is to work closely with customers to identify the best equipment, balancing both technical performance and commercial considerations.
Contact us - we look forward to discussing your high-speed imaging needs.
A Day in the Life of an AOS High-Speed Camera
Ever wondered how those jaw-dropping slow-motion crash test videos are made? At AOS Technologies, our high-speed cameras don’t just capture cars crashing—they reveal every exploding airbag, every component failure, and every millisecond of impact in stunning detail at up to 1,000 frames per second.
But creating these breathtaking sequences isn’t as simple as pointing a camera and pressing record. Our engineers meticulously plan and set up each outdoor crash test, adjusting camera positions, lighting, and triggers to capture every critical moment. It’s precision, expertise, and a bit of science magic all rolled into one.
Take a peek behind the scenes and see how our teams bring these high-speed moments to life. Watch the video, be amazed, and reach out to us to discuss how we can capture your next high-speed event with perfect clarity.
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