camera
I came across a test pattern a few years back in a robotics laboratory that I remember being told was some sort of test pattern to train cameras for robotic vision. It was like some sort of checkerboard pattern but it was not a uniform pattern.
The image is my best rendition of it. Does anyone know what this type of pattern is called and what its use is?
EDIT:After seeing mikeselectricstuff's comment, I agree: buy both. Then upvote his comment.
Pick the 850nm one. As shown in the following image (from here), it is attenuated less than 950nm.
The green and blue portion of your camera's Bayer filter will attenuate the IR light considerably, making their channels noisy, so you may want to look into getting raw image data output such that it can be processed on your PC, rejecting those channels. The filter cannot be removed.
Be careful with your IR "flash bulb", or whatever it ends up being. Although we can't see it, it still hurts and damages eyes. Many animals/insects are more sensitive to and can even see IR.
Answering my own question, as I found those on a more thorough search.
Part-1) Right kind of IR LED for the job. This SE question has some answers.
Part-2) Difference (optics, sensor) between webcam and surveillance cams. This external link has it explained quite well.
Best Answer
A fiducial?
A coded aperture for computational photography?
A 2D barcode or bokode?