More Than Pixel: A ThermTec Engineer on the Future of Hunting
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Thermal imaging technology has fundamentally changed hunting over the past decade. What once depended on luck, favorable conditions, or years of field experience can now often be detected at distances of several hundred yards. But how are modern thermal devices actually developed? What happens between the sensor, the software, and the final image that appears in the eyepiece? And what are the engineers behind the scenes working on today?
Shot & Stillness sat down with Ariel Yang of ThermTec to discuss failed prototypes, common misconceptions about thermal imaging, and whether modern technology truly makes hunters better.
Shot & Stillness: Ariel, how many wild boars have your developers actually observed through thermal devices?
Ariel Yang: It’s difficult to put an exact number on it. Hunting in China is highly regulated, so our engineers don’t have the same opportunities to gain hands-on hunting experience as hunters in Europe or Australia. That’s why we work very closely with professional hunters, wildlife managers, conservation specialists, and field operators. Feedback from different regions is incredibly valuable because hunting environments, game species, and field conditions vary significantly around the world.
As a developer, what do you see in a thermal image that a hunter might overlook?
Modern thermal imaging is no longer just about sensors. A good example is our adaptive AGC technology. It continuously adjusts contrast and gain levels. Extremely hot areas are automatically balanced, while subtle temperature differences in the background are enhanced. As a result, users can see details that would otherwise disappear in overly bright or dark portions of the image.
European Hunters as Product Developers
How has your cooperation with European hunting partners evolved over the years?
It has become much closer. Years ago, the relationship was mainly focused on products and distribution. Today, we learn directly from real-world hunting experience.
European hunting is deeply rooted in tradition, responsibility, and local expertise. An Austrian mountain hunter faces completely different challenges than a wild boar hunter in Eastern Europe.
For us, this cooperation works both ways. On one hand, direct field feedback helps us improve our products. On the other, we learn a tremendous amount about how experienced hunters make decisions in real hunting situations. Often, small practical details matter far more than impressive technical specifications on paper.
Which technical specification do you believe hunters tend to overestimate?
Without question, thermal sensitivity—commonly known as the NETD value. Of course, it is important. However, many people use it as the sole indicator of image quality. In reality, the final image is the result of the entire system working together: the sensor, the lens, the display, and the software. An excellent NETD value means very little if the optics or image-processing algorithms can’t keep up.
NETD (Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference)
The NETD value describes the thermal sensitivity of a thermal imaging camera. Simply put, it indicates how small a temperature difference the camera can detect. NETD is measured in millikelvin (mK). The lower the NETD value, the better the camera’s ability to distinguish subtle temperature differences.
Imagine a roe buck with a surface temperature of 28°C (82.4°F) standing against a background measuring 27.98°C (82.36°F).
NETD 50 mK (0.05°C): The temperature difference is barely visible, resulting in a noisy image with reduced contrast.
NETD 20 mK (0.02°C): The temperature difference is clearly detected, allowing the animal to stand out sharply from the background.
Sensor or Software: What Creates the Better Image?
How much of image quality comes from hardware versus software?
Generally speaking, about 60 percent of image quality comes from the sensor and thermal optics. The remaining 40 percent comes from software algorithms and image processing. That’s where many of today’s most exciting innovations are happening.
Do modern thermal devices make hunters better?
I wouldn’t say they automatically make hunters better, but they often make them more effective and safer. Thermal technology allows observations that would have been nearly impossible in the past, especially at night. At the same time, wildlife has adapted. Wild boar, for example, often emerge significantly later than they did years ago. As a result, many hunters who don’t specifically pursue wild boar are now using thermal devices simply because they provide a much better understanding of what’s happening in their hunting area.
The Biggest Hollywood Myth
What features do hunters frequently wish for that remain technically impossible?
Many people’s understanding of thermal imaging comes from movies. In Hollywood, thermal cameras can see through walls, forests, and almost anything else. In reality, that’s simply impossible. Thermal devices only detect infrared radiation emitted from visible surfaces. They cannot see through trees, terrain, buildings, or solid obstacles. A clear line of sight will always remain essential.
How many prototypes never make it to market?
Surprisingly many. Roughly 70 to 80 percent of early development prototypes are eventually discarded. Even among functional alpha and beta versions, another 30 to 40 percent fail during testing. Out of ten completely new product platforms, typically only two or three ever reach mass production.
Austria Isn't Texas
Do Austrian and German hunters want different things than hunters in Australia or the United States?
Absolutely. Hunting regulations, terrain, game species, and hunting traditions vary enormously from region to region. Naturally, expectations for thermal equipment differ as well. That’s why we don’t develop products solely for a global market. We pay very close attention to regional requirements and local hunting conditions.
Do you design products differently for mountain hunters and hunters in flat terrain?
Yes, very much so. The challenges couldn’t be more different. In mountainous environments, long observation distances, rapidly changing temperatures, and complex terrain play a major role. In forests, however, hunters often deal with shorter engagement distances, fast target acquisition, and numerous visual obstructions. That’s why we tailor hardware, optics, and image-processing algorithms to specific hunting applications.
Where do you see thermal imaging technology heading in the next few years?
We clearly see a trend toward dual-technology systems. Thermal imaging remains indispensable, particularly in fog, poor weather, and for long-range detection. At the same time, digital optics provide additional detail for positive target identification. Devices such as our Ventus already demonstrate where the industry is heading. Thermal imaging and digital technology are being combined into a single compact system. In the future, hunters won’t need to carry multiple devices. Instead, they’ll have access to all relevant information through one integrated platform.
Thank you for your time, Ariel.
The conversation with Ariel Yang demonstrates that modern thermal imaging is about far more than sensor resolution and technical specifications. Behind every device are years of development, countless discarded prototypes, and continuous collaboration with hunters from around the world.
And perhaps the most important takeaway is this: Technology does not determine hunting success—the hunter does.
Thermal imaging devices provide information. The responsibility for interpreting that information correctly will always remain in the hands of the hunter.