Night vision technology has evolved significantly from WWII to present day. Early night vision relied on searchlights but gave away tactical positions. Military scientists developed the first generation of night vision goggles using image intensification tubes during WWII. After Vietnam, improvements included microchannel plates and thermal imaging. Currently, the US military uses generation 3 goggles, which offer longer tube life than previous models. While originally created for military use, night vision technology has expanded to civilian applications in areas like law enforcement, hunting, and security.

1. Development through Military History into Modern Daily Use.
By: Johanna Renfro

2.  Night vision technology has shaped history.
 Pre 1940’s: Flares and spot lights were used
for operations at night.

3.  Due to the nature of these early night vision
devices (NVD), they gave away tactical
positions.
 Military scientists began to think of ways to
improve night vision to gain a strategic
advantage.

4. A tank fromWorld
War II equipped
with a search light
used for night
combat.

5.  The first night vision devices (NVD) were
created during WWII.
 Functioned by placing an infrared filter over a
searchlight.
 Fighters would use special binoculars to see
using the light from the searchlights.
 Many problems came from this night vision
method.

6. Why do NVD
devices always
show images in
hues of green?
A) The original designers of NVD
had an obsession with the color.
B)The actual first inventors of
NVD were little green aliens.
C) NVD use green because it
allows for more defined
images.

7. C
The screen was purposefully colored
green due to the scientific fact that the
human eye can differentiate more
shades of green that any other color.

8.  There were many disadvantages to using the
searchlights and flares.
 The actual searchlight was massive and had
to be mounted on a truck or tank.
 Both the Allies and Nazi’s had this
technology, so they each could see the others
light.

9.  The images created were streaky and
distorted.
 The acceleration of electrons cut the life of
the image intensification tube, which was the
most important and expensive part of the
NVD, very short.
 Military scientists began planning a revised
design.

10.  Post WWII NVD technology focused on the
ability to see without creating additional
light.
 During this time period the first “Generation”
of NVD began using intensified natural
lighting.

11.  Military scientists created a two-stage
cascade image tube.
 This tube intensified the natural lighting and
created a superior image for the viewer.
 The power of Generation 1 NVD was put to
the test in the Vietnam War.

12. Generation 1
NVD were
commonly
called what
during their use
in theVietnam
War?
A) Star-Tron Scopes
B) Moon Beams
C) Space Goggles

13.  A
 Star-Tron Scopes was the common name
given to the NVD in Vietnam.
 There were still many problems military
scientists wanted to work on.

14.  Star Tron Scopes intensification tubes were
as heavy as the rifles they were mounted on.
 They were not sensitive enough to give clear
images in anything less than full moonlight.
 The NVD emitted a whiney noise.
 They would shut down if they were exposed
to a sudden burst of bright light.

15.  There were two major developments in NVD
technology after their test in Vietnam.
 The first was a new micro-channel plate
(MPC) that was light weight, and more
effective at focusing light into clear images.
 The second major development was the
invention of thermal imagining.

16.  Thermal imaging allowed for NV even
through low natural lighted conditions.
 It also allowed for NV through smoky, dusty,
and foggy conditions.
 These thermal imagers were expensive, so in
1973 scientists created a common module
that made it less expensive, and more ideal
for military use.

17.  The generation 2 NVD were first put to the
test by US forces in the early 1990’s during
Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.
 The dark nights and harsh dusty conditions
were perfect for implementing the new
technology.

18.  The currently generations of NVS are
generations 3 and 4.
 Generation 3 is much like generation 2 except
for it has a substantially longer life, as well as
more defined images.
 Generation 4 has less noise than generation
3, however it has shorter life.

19.  Here is a chart comparing the life in hours of
the intensification tube for generations 1-3
Generation 1 Generation 2 Generation 3
2,000 hours 2,500- 4,000 hours 10,000 hours

20. Which of the 4
Generations of
NVD is the
current model
used by the
U.S. Military?
A)Generation 1
B) Generation 2
C) Generation 3
D) Generation 4

21. C) Generation 3
U.S. forces use generation 3
because despite its slightly less
clear image, and slightly more
noisy design compared to
generation 4, it has a longer
life in hours which is more
important when all things are
considered.

22.  Development of NVD up until the 1980’s was
completely focused around military purposes.
 In the 80’s, companies in the US and Europe
took NVT and found ways to improve
everyday civilian life.

23.  There are many practical everyday uses for
NVD, some of which are:
 Law Enforcement
 Hunting
 Surveillance

24.  Security
 Navigation
 Hidden-Object detection
 Entertainment

25.  In conclusion I believe that is wonderful how
something originally designed for
destruction, can now help people on an
every-day basis.
 Personally, NVD have saved my brother-in-
law from harm in his job through NVD
navigation technology.
 This is truly amazing technology.

26.  Unknown author, “Night Vision Devices”.
BookRags. 11/12/2008
<http://bookrags.com>
 Unknown author, “Night Vision Goggles”.
GlobalSecurity. 11/10/2008
<http://www.global securities.org>
 Unknown author, “How Night Vision Works”. How
Stuff Works. 11/11/2008
<http://electronics.howstuffworks.com>