Smart Bag Optical Identification System with Integrated Near-Infrared (NIR) Illumination
Authors: SILVIO PLEHATI, ALEKSANDRA BERNAŠEK PETRINEC, TOMISLAV BOGOVIĆ, JANA ŽILJAK GRŠIĆ, IVANA ŽILJAK STANIMIROVIĆ
School: Zagreb University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Graphic Arts, University of Zagreb
Country: CROATIA
e-mail: splehati@tvz.hr
The innovation is a functional prototype of a system for the identification of people and equipment under conditions of reduced visibility and complete darkness. The system integrates a textile substrate with embedded near-infrared (NIR) LED illumination, a concealed optical STag marker produced using CMYKIR printing technology, and computer vision algorithms for the automatic detection, identification, and localization of tagged objects. The STag marker is invisible to the human eye and can only be detected in the near-infrared spectrum using standard NIR cameras and dedicated software. Unlike reflective or thermal markers, the system does not depend on body temperature or external infrared illumination. The innovation enables reliable real-time identification and has potential applications in search and rescue operations, civil protection, logistics, industrial processes, security systems, and the development of smart protective equipment.
This research was funded by European Union—NextGenerationEU, project “Realistic reproduction of flora performed by twin dyes in the visible and near-infrared spectral region with application on textiles”, grant number NPOO2024-4.
