9415834 Fainman A hybrid optical/electronic system that uses holographic optical elements for the inspection of machined parts is proposed. With this approach, a holographic optical element corresponding to the part is generated using the database that exists in the computer- aided design system. The holographic optical element stores information on the geometry of the ideal designed part, which is later compared with the real, machined part. The comparison is done by an optical system interfaced with a microcomputer to obtain digital output. With this strategy, instead of measuring the absolute values of the shape, the PI measures only the deviations of the actual part surface from the designed part. Measuring deviations instead of absolute values may increase the measurement resolution and accuracy by orders of magnitude. The proposed research on the development of a CAI system will have a significant impact on manufacturing technologies because it will provide tools that will allow different subsystems in the manufacturing processes to be integrated in real time. The proposed studies will also advance the areas of optical signal processing and optical computing. For example, new approaches to encoding problems for computer holography will be introduced, and a new method based on the optical utilization of a priori knowledge will be developed for image processing, pattern recognition and machine vision. The Technology Reinvestment Project of ARPA has recently established a Manufacturing Engineering program at UCSD; thereby the proposed work will also have a unique impact on the education of students at the graduate and undergraduate levels in manufacturing engineering. They will gain extensive first-hand experience in the growing field of optics in general and in optical sensing and optical signal processing in particular. The students background will be further enhanced through special courses and seminars related to this subject. The PI expects that the unique background of the students (i.e., optical technology and manufacturing systems, including CAD, CAM, and robotics) will be an important factor in the introduction and efficient integration of advances in optical technology into different areas of U.S. manufacturing industry. ***
