Talk:X-ray vision

Untitled

Should someone incorporate this into it?[]

<<While there are devices currently extant which can "see" through clothing, these are quite bulky and it is unlikely that any "X-ray goggles" could be made with modern technology.>>

What does "extant" mean? 64.192.107.242 01:14, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

wiktionary:Extant. — Saxifrage ✎ 18:34, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

I have a question that wasn't answered here. In sci-fi uses of X-ray vision, such as James Bond, Superman, etc., first, is there a limitation on the range of x-ray vision, and second, can prolonged exposure create detrimental effects, like cancer? Kevin 06:10, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

I can't answer the "range" question, but the "exposure" question is rather interesting. As noted in the article, Superman's X-ray vision generated heat, suggesting that Superman himself was the source of the X-rays. However, this would also suggest that in order to see through things, there would have to be something behind the object he's looking at/through to reflect his rays back to his eyes. After the Byrne revamp in 1986, it seemed that Superman's X-ray vision was merely the ability to visually perceive frequencies outside the normal human range, so there is no additional radiation present -- he's merely taking advantage of natural sources. HalJor 23:54, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

I'm surprised there is no mention of the fact that human eyes receive light, not transmit it, in order to see. When an x-ray is taken in a medical environment, you have an x-ray emitter on one side of the object, and film on the other. If a fictional character had x-ray vision that is transmissive, all they can do is bathe something in radiation, not see through it. If that character had x-ray vision that is receptive, they would need to have a source of x-rays on the other side of the object they are looking at, in order to see the contents. With normal vision, you can see because light from an external source strikes objects and "reflects" so the reflected light enters the eye. In the case of x-rays, they are notable because they don't strike surfaces like visible light does -- they can penetrate a bit deeper, and are sometimes absorbed completely (lead). If humans had eyes that could also emit white light, we could see anything we want without need of a source, but if someone were to have eyes that can both transmit and receive x-rays, it would still be useless because there are few materials that reflect x-rays so they can be observed in the same manner as visible light. That is to say, you're still dependent on an x-ray source on the opposite side of the object. - MHoward

"...but sometimes for more perverted reasons"

The phrase "...but sometimes for more perverted reasons" is POV. Let's be less vague and state that X-ray vision is sometimes used in fictional works to view people's private parts and leave it up to the reader to decide whether that is perverted or not. --Cab88 13:50, 12 October 2007 (UTC)

About the source of Xrays- you forgot something major

Since we're dealing with Em radiation- Superman could realistically easily see it- and no , he doesnt need to emit xrays from his eyes(they don't bounce off a lot of common materials)

No, what you've all forgotten is that there's a miniscule amount of high energy rays that do get through earth's atmosphere- and they are extremely small in total power(or sometimes pretty high- ie the rays that go through everything and have very little interaction(but Superman can see the whole spectrum so he'd be able to see them)- but the fact is there is ambient xray radiation from outside the planet.

I am not sure of natural sources of Xrays on the earth-that's like saying the Earth naturally emits visible light. I don't recall if it's true- but if so, it's on a level so small that pretty much only Superman could detect it with his super eyes.

Anyway, does not the Sun emit xrays as well- aside from its high burst periods, it probably constantly emits some amount. Correct me if i am wrong please- but Superman could use that radiation almost as our eyes adn cameras can read visible light from the Sun.

I'm aware Xrays don't behave like normal visible light-band Em radiation, and plus one reason we can see so well is that a lot of stuff SCATTERS visible light(not sure if this would occur for these extremely weak xrays that do get to Earth's Surface and past the magnetic fields-and on the high end, all the higher energy stuff HARDLY interacts with matter on earth- it's why it takes labs deep under the earth to detect and build images from that space radiation)

But anyway- Can we get some expert opinions regarding the ambient values/background radiation?

Indeed, we're dealing with really miniscule amounts that would be too cost-prohibitive for us to go after ourselves, but it actually fits with Superman's multispectral selective vision. I apologize If I'm way off in left field here.98.85.106.24 (talk) 05:19, 21 April 2011 (UTC)

That's a great point, except for one thing. We can see objects because light from the sun reflects off of them and is reflected to our eyes. X-rays from the sun pass through most matter. Superman would only be able to see very dense materials that block or reflect X-rays. He wouldn't be able to, say, read a newspaper through a brick wall, or see a person's body (except for the skeleton) through clothes. WaxTadpole (talk) 22:19, 20 March 2013 (UTC)

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List of Devices

MIR (USA) -Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR)

ERKOS (previously sold by selex-si-uk dot and selex-si dot

PKI 7405 (germany) PKI 7405 (germany) EMMDAR and RANGE-R® by Cyterra (USA)

ASTIR (US) / AKELA

ACU-CPR4 (Acustek)Resucesafe appears to be clones ACU-CPR4 / CPR3 another clone by cinside

XAVER by Camero-Tech(Israel)

Prism 200 (UK)

ReTWis /Retia (Czech republic previous website lokalizacni-systemy.cz) and DF108 (appears to be chinese clone)

TiaLinx (USA)

Brand / Product manufacturers original Description if available MIR (USA)

Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR) ERKOS (previously sold by selex-si-uk.com and selex-si.com ASTIR (US)

AKELA, through sponsorship by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), has developed a high performance, portable, see-through-the-wall imaging system. The system provides the ability to detect and track the presence of both moving and stationary individuals within a building structure

ACU-CPR4 (Acustek)Resucesafe appears to be clones ACU-CPR4 / CPR3 another clone by cinside

Xaver 100

Building on its successful legacy of through-wall RF imaging products, Camero is in the advanced development stages of an innovative presence of life detector – the Xaver™ 100. The Xaver™ 100 stems from the core radar- based imaging technology used in our Xaver™ line of through wall imaging products. The X100 uses micro-power, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), pulsed radar to penetrate standard building materials and alert the user to the presence of life on the other side of the wall. Developed with the specific needs of tactical operators in mind, the Xaver™ 100 provides instant critical situational awareness and target acquisition data. The Xaver™ 400

allows for quick location of people hidden by walls and barriers, enabling tactical teams to step into the known and obtain mission-critical information. The Xaver™ 400 is a compact, lightweight and durable personal device, optimized for the speed of tactical entries. The Xaver™ 400 gives special ops and rescue forces critical information in real-time about the number of people and their location behind a wall.

The Xaver™ 800

Prism 200 (UK)

Prism 200 ReTWis is a through-wall radar system capable of detecting, locating, and real-time tracking of living human targets concealed behind solid barriers.

TiaLinx (USA) (web archive for more info)

radarvision 2000 soldiervision 2000 (USA)

More:

Sentry Probe

Lexid Lobster Eye

Through Wall Scope (japan)

Brand / Product

Description

Sentry Probe (archived website)

Lexid Lobster Eye

LEXID® is a single sided X-ray detection and imaging system that provides through-the-wall acquisition and focusing of Compton backscattered photons of hidden objects, contraband, explosive devices, weapons or people

Through Wall Scope (japan)

picor bio (russia)

SWAT TMP-Vision by tempestini

HD-FKCT-034 (china)

Motion Detector thru Wall – ISS (UAE)

LifeLocator

QN-Radar (China)

biken radars (china)

SVL-III (china)

STORM (USA)

ids corporation (ingegneria dei sistemi) (hq in Italy)

SENTRY PROBE technology is retrofitted into a DeWALT flashlight to provide a rugged enclosure and recharging system, to survive rough handling for long life.

Lexid Lobster Eye

LEXID® is a single sided X-ray detection and imaging system

Through Wall Scope (japan)

picor bio (russia) (archived)

SWAT TMP-Vision by tempestini

TMP-Vision will detect motion through up to 12 inches (30 cm) of solid concrete and even through meters of building rubble.

HD-FKCT-034 (china)

HD-FKCT-034 Through-wall UWB Radar Detector is widely used in various fields：Law enforcement,City street battle,Fire rescue,Earthquake Relief Work

Motion Detector thru Wall – ISS (UAE) (previously sold by easywaresolutions.com no archive available)

LifeLocator

Search and rescue missions are extremely difficult to perform successfully. Limited resources, harsh weather conditions and

severely damaged infrastructure are often obstacles in SAR missions.

UVSS_UltraSensor

QN-Radar (China)

3D Through-Wall Radar

biken radars (china)

SVL-III (china)

Another radar offered on same website- cats eye.

STORM (USA)

STORM Portable Units (Handheld, Manpack, Portable)VAWD Sense Thru Obstacles Remote Monitoring (STORM) Systems VAWD STORM System Capability All weather sense through obstruction life form detection sensor Detect, track, discriminate human and other life form targets hidden within building structure or deep inside foliage areas at long standoff range

tonron (china)

Cambrate P100 (UK)

Melss (india)

NSS610 (USA) (previously listed on novoquad ... now listed as ND-SV001

TNO (Netherlands)

Gradient QD M1 S1 (germany)

DSO (Singapore)

Данник-5 (dannik 5) Russia

MAI (russia)

InSight (Raytheon)

TDR6000 (china)

MARS (raytheon)

Probant (EU)

radar scope (darpa -US )

Tenzor (russia)

Logis-Geotech (russia)

AVID (UK)

SIRCHIE 007 (china)

DKL LifeGuard (usa)

Life Sensor radar (japan/russia)

milicam (france)

fcs3 (local copy)(japan)

ATO technology (usa)

Walleye - millimeter wave imaging systems. ..

WallVision (usa)

geozondas (lithuania)

Enforcement Technology Group (usa)

Данник-5 (dannik 5) Russia (original page removed from website although radar mentioned here (archive.org)) It also here (archive.org)

MAI (russia)

Moscow Aviation Institute developed through wall radar for police forces.

InSight (Raytheon)

Another raytheon radar described in washington post back in 2010. No model name.

TDR6000 (china)

MARS (raytheon)

Probant (EU)

PROBANT stands for “People Real-Time Observation in Buildings:

Tenzor (russia)

UWB Radar for remote alive objects monitoring It is intended for remote monitoring for people, allocation of signals of breath and palpitation.

Logis-Geotech (russia)

Few versions of radars RO-400, RO-900. They call their product as “stenovizor”. Keep in mind that it’s compound word where “stena” translates into english as “wall”.

Previous version was called АБ-400СН.

news video where the company representatives demonstrating and talking about their radars (in russian language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3RNsoFe-zI

AVID (UK) – hand held through wall radar. (no further information)They also manufacture permanently installed through wall sensor systems for prison cell 24/7 monitoring.

SIRCHIE 007 (china)

DKL LifeGuard (usa)

The lightweight, hand-held DKL LifeGuard™ is a passive electronic sensor that detects the electric field created by a beating human heart, even through barriers. A patented filter eliminates all but the unique ultra low frequency (ULF), human electric field. Since it detects only living humans, the LifeGuard ™ is immune to false alarms caused by animals, heat, vibration or noise.

Life Sensor radar (japan/russia)

Commercialization of Russian military technology (Developed by Tenzor Co.,Ltd.). Search of live human persons (suffered during spontaneous disaster and calamity) invisible for visual detection under obstruction of broken buildings, soil, snow avalanches and so on as well as persons hidden in mentioned environments, buildings, containers.

milicam (france) mentioned here

Milicam30 sensor was developed to detect human presence behind walls or under debris. It can also detect objects inside walls or screen passengers or baggage at airport security checks.So far it seems most advanced device as it’s able to detect contours of human body through wall. Not very portable though.

ATO technology (usa)

Walleye”s portable microwave imaging camera technology platform generates high quality digital images that allow users to see through solid objects and display, store, analyze and transmit images. The Walleye technology is based on the field of long wavelength imaging systems, in particular, millimeter wave imaging systems.

geozondas (lithuania)

Manufactures see through wall radars, uwb radar kits and a lot more.

Enforcement Technology Group (usa)

Golograf / holograf / радар “Голограф” (russia)

Top Sky TS-120 (china)

Novasky Electronic technology Ltd (china)

Hitar by vizornet (USA)

Radar flashlight (usa)- Probably one of the oldest products mentioned in the media (20 years ago). The RADAR Flashlight was developed to be a law enforcement tool. It can detect the respiration signature of a motionless individual standing up to 5 meters behind a 20 centimeter hollow core concrete block wall.

Wave Sense (USA)

FINDER (USA)

Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response

Visiray (USA)

GPR Detector (UK)

vayyar (israel) walabot

STM (turkey)

DAR (Through-The-Wall Radar) is a system developed by STM Defense Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc. that uses Radio Frequency (RF) signals to detect the presence and location of people in a closed space in case of no possibility of access. DAR can be used in many cases that the detection of people in a building is so critical, such as hostage rescue operations.

decod (Singapore)

Eagle Eye Labs

Lux by lumineye- a lightweight sensor (weighing only a pound and a half) that can detect the presence of people through walls.

hawkvine. /radar-detector/ (china)

X-Space Tech (china)/ G6A

Handheld Ultrasound Through the Wall Surveillance

jaycor inc--The National Institute of Justice has funded Jaycor, Inc. to develop a device that is able to locate individuals through metal walls. This would be a unique capability. Current through the wall surveillance technologies use radar and are unable to penetrate metallic construction materials. (talk) 14:00, 22 July 2026 (UTC)

others?

Methods

Methods: microwave, x-ray/back scattering x-rays, ultrasound). others? ~2026-41018-84 (talk) 14:25, 22 July 2026 (UTC)

Through-The-Wall Sensors (TTWS)—use radio, millimeter-wave (MMW) radar, or terahertz imaging ~2026-41018-84 (talk) 14:36, 22 July 2026 (UTC)

X-Ray Vision devices (back scattering x-ray)

for wiki article.

List:

-Raven Handheld X-Ray Imager

-Viken Broadwing DTX

-NightHawk BTX Handheld X-Ray Backscatter Imaging System

-HBI-120 (120 keV) Handheld Backscatter

-VIDERAY by Sunixtec

more? ~2026-41411-87 (talk) 16:35, 25 July 2026 (UTC)