A collaborative DIY night vision project combining thermal imaging and near-infrared vision capabilities for tactical helmet mounting.
This project creates a dual-sensor night vision system using:
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH - Main processing unit
- Pi NoIR 12MP Camera - Near-infrared imaging sensor
- Thermal Imaging Camera - Heat signature detection
- 5000mAh Battery - Portable power solution
- Tactical Helmet Mount - Hands-free operation
- Dual-sensor night vision (thermal + near-infrared)
- Helmet-mounted for hands-free operation
- Portable battery-powered system
- Raspberry Pi-based for customization and development
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH - Pre Soldered Header, Quad-Core 1GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth
- Raspberry Pi Camera Module 3 NoIR - 12MP 75 Degree Infrared Lens
- Adafruit MLX90640 IR Thermal Camera Breakout - Thermal imaging sensor
- 11.1V LiPo Battery 5000mAh 3S 100C - Rechargeable with XH & XT60 Connector
- Quanum Cyclops V2 FPV Goggles System - 5" 800x480 Display Built-in Receiver
- DC 12V/24V to 5V USB C Step Down Converter - Type-C Interface 5A 25W Waterproof Buck Module
- LiPo Battery Charger 2S-3S RC Balance Charger - AC 7.4-11.1V 10W
- Tiny OTG Adapter - USB Micro to USB
- Angled 2.5mm Male to 3.5mm Female Audio Cable - Headphone Adapter
- Official Raspberry Pi A2 Class microSD Card - 32GB
- Raspberry Pi Zero FPC Camera Cable - 30cm long
- IR Illuminator LED 850nm - Infrared Flashlight, Adjustable Focus
- Adafruit KB2040 - RP2040 Kee Board Driver
- Portta HDMI Converter - HDMI to AV
- Break away 0.1" 2x20 pin Strip Dual Male Header
- 120 Pin Breadboard Jumper Wires - Length 20cm, Male to Female/Male to Male/Female to Female
- Camera Mount Bracket - Custom mount for Pi NoIR camera positioning
- Thermal Camera Housing - Protective enclosure for MLX90640 sensor
- Main System Enclosure - Weather-resistant housing for Raspberry Pi and electronics
- Helmet Mount Adapter - Tactical helmet attachment system
- Cable Management Clips - Organized routing for power and data cables
[Thermal Camera] ----\
\
[Pi Zero 2 WH] --> [Display/Output]
/
[Pi NoIR Camera] ----/
|
[5000mAh Battery]
The night vision system requires several custom 3D printed components for proper mounting and protection:
- Camera Mount Bracket - Secures the Pi NoIR camera with adjustable positioning
- Thermal Camera Housing - Protects the MLX90640 thermal sensor while allowing heat detection
- Main System Enclosure - Houses the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 WH and associated electronics
- Helmet Mount Adapter - Attaches the entire system to tactical helmet rails
- Cable Management Clips - Keeps power and data cables organized and secure
- Layer Height: 0.2mm
- Infill: 20% for lightweight components, 40% for structural mounts
- Material: PETG recommended for durability and temperature resistance
- Supports: Required for overhangs and complex geometries
- Use M3 screws and heat-set inserts for secure mounting
- Apply thread locker to prevent loosening during field use
- Seal all enclosures with gaskets to prevent moisture ingress
- Test fit all components before final assembly
Coming soon - Setup and installation instructions
Coming soon - Operating instructions and user guide
Coming soon - Development setup and contribution guidelines
This is a collaborative project. Please see the issues section for current tasks and contribute to the development.
License information to be added