Indian, US researchers develop algorithms for lensless, miniature cameras with futuristic applications They offer imaging capabilities similar to conventional cameras, but at much lesser weight, cost and nearly-flat cameras. Share Updated: May 17, 2021, 05:10 PM IST Researchers from IIT Madras and Rice University, USA, have developed algorithms for lensless, miniature cameras that have applications in Augmented/Virtual reality, security, smart wearables, robotics among others. Lensless cameras are touted to be the future of miniature imaging technology, as they offer imaging capabilities similar to conventional cameras, but at much lesser weight, cost and nearly-flat cameras. In conventional cameras, the lens enables light to be focussed onto an imaging sensor, which captures a sharp, detailed photograph. However, in lensless cameras the light will fall on many pixels (giving a blurred image), from which the final image has to be derived via a software.