Insect vision high-speed, low-light camera

Unlike traditional high-speed cameras, which struggle with sensitivity at high frame rates, this camera integrates multiple optical channels and temporal summation to enhance imaging performance.

How insect vision shaped the design

Fast-moving insects, such as dragonflies and bees, process visual information differently from humans. Their compound eyes have multiple optical channels that detect motion in parallel. Some nocturnal species also integrate visual signals over time, increasing sensitivity in dim conditions. Inspired by these mechanisms, the researchers developed the High-Speed Microlens Array Camera (HS-MAC), an ultra-thin, high-speed imaging system designed to overcome the limitations of conventional cameras.

The study, published in ‘Science Advances’ in January 2025, demonstrates how HS-MAC achieves ultra-fast imaging with enhanced sensitivity by using a microlens array structure similar to insect compound eyes. This design allows the camera to process multiple frames simultaneously from different time intervals, improving speed and image clarity.

The challenge with conventional high-speed cameras

Traditional high-speed cameras capture fast motion well but become less sensitive as frame rates increase. The shorter exposure times required for high-speed imaging limit the amount of light collected, making them ineffective in low-light environments.

HS-MAC addresses this limitation by using multiple optical channels to capture overlapping frames, effectively increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. This allows the camera to detect objects up to 40x dimmer than those seen by conventional high-speed cameras.

Achieving speed and clarity

The camera’s design incorporates a technique called ‘channel fragmentation,’ which divides images into separate optical pathways. These fragmented images are then reassembled into a sharp final image using a compressed image restoration algorithm. This approach reduces blur while maintaining high frame rates.

HS-MAC can capture images at 9,120 frames per second while remaining compact – less than one millimetre thick. The camera also features a ‘temporal summation’ technique, where light is collected over multiple overlapping frames. This enhances sensitivity without sacrificing speed, making the system well-suited for extreme lighting conditions.

Capability in motion

To evaluate its capabilities, the HS-MAC was tested in two scenarios:

• High-speed motion capture: the camera accurately recorded a colour disk rotating at 1,950rpm, producing clear images even at extreme speeds
• Low-light imaging: it visualised the detachment of a flame pocket in near-total darkness, operating in conditions as low as 0.001 lux – an environment too dim for most conventional cameras

The combination of high-speed imaging and enhanced sensitivity makes HS-MAC particularly useful for applications in surveillance, biomedical imaging, and mobile camera systems.

Future applications and advancements

The KAIST team aims to refine HS-MAC further, exploring its potential for 3D imaging and super-resolution techniques. Its compact size and efficiency open possibilities for use in portable imaging systems, robotics, and scientific research.

By replicating the visual strategies of insects, this bio-inspired camera marks a step forward in high-speed, low-light imaging.