FLIR Forward Looking Infrared

[chacoguy]

As opposed to looking in what direction?

Why is ‘Forward Looking’ included in the description?

[TroutMan]

From Wiki:

The term “forward looking” is used to distinguish fixed forward-looking thermal imaging systems from sideways-tracking infrared systems, also known as “push broom” imagers, and other thermal imaging systems such as gimbal-mounted imaging systems, handheld imaging systems and the like. Pushbroom systems typically have been used on aircraft and satellites.

Sideways-tracking imagers normally involve a one-dimensional (1D) array of pixels which uses the motion of the aircraft or satellite to move the view of the 1D array across the ground to build up a 2D image over time. Such systems cannot be used for real-time imaging, and must look perpendicular to the direction of travel.