Applications of Optomechatronic Technologies in Innovative Industry

This paper presents a review of the recent progress of optomechatronics for innovative industry. In identifying the direction of further development of optomechatronic technologies, the authors have used their own extensive experience in implementing numerous high-end vision systems for monitoring the technological processes and product inspection as well as unique research equipment. During the analysis of the literature, reports and case studies, the authors indicate future trends in the area of optomechatronic technologies that involve hybrid inspection methods that use 2D and 3D imaging methods and terahertz spectroscopy, which increases the resolution of camera sensors. Observed problems and limitations of optomechatronic technologies are discussed. This chapter presents selected examples of implementations with the authors' participation of automated optical systems in industry. The system for visual inspection and qualitative selection of shafts in the automotive industry and the hybrid system for online monitoring the plastic forming processes are described. The original hybrid inspection method of the aluminium extrusion process demonstrates the ability to detect defects in the material structure that are not visible in the visible range. A new important direction of research planned in the authors' scientific activity is the use of terahertz imaging for the inspection of materials and products.