What is the difference between IR sensor and thermal camera?

The difference between an IR sensor and a thermal camera lies in their functionality and applications. An IR (infrared) sensor detects infrared radiation from objects and converts it into an electrical signal, often used for simple presence or motion detection. A thermal camera, on the other hand, captures a detailed image of the infrared radiation emitted by objects, providing a visual representation of temperature variations across a scene. This makes thermal cameras suitable for more complex applications like surveillance, diagnostics, and predictive maintenance.