A prototype scanner for ‘digital dentistry’, a fast-growing new field enabled by innovative optical technologies, has won the VISION Award 2011, a prize that recognizes new developments in the field of applied image processing.
Manfred Gruber, head of the Austrian Institute of Technology’s “safe and autonomous systems” business unit, accepted the award and the prize of €5000 at the annual VISION trade fair taking place in Stuttgart, Germany, this week.
The scanner, developed at AIT and being commercialized by the Klagenfurt-based start-up company a.tron3D, is based on a continuous blue LED source and a pair of tiny cameras more typically used in mobile handsets, and generates a three-dimensional image of a full set of teeth in just a few minutes.
Although it isn’t the first such optical scanner for such applications, it is, according to AIT and a.tron3D, the smallest and lightest. Resembling a toothbrush and directly compatible with conventional dental tools, it is around half the size of similar tools already commercialized by the likes of 3M and US-based Cadent (now part of Align Technology).
The tools are all used to produce dental impressions without the need for the uncomfortable and time-consuming standard method, which requires a patient to bite on silicone material before a mould of the impression is made.
The AIT-developed real-time 3D scanner relies on a miniaturized light projection system and advanced algorithms to produce the digital impression quickly, while blue light is used as it gives a better spectral response than longer wavelengths: AIT says that the technique would not be effective with red wavelengths, for example.
a.tron3D was founded in 2010 by dental laboratory owner Horst Koinig, who first came across AIT’s development of 3D scanning technology at the same VISION trade show around five years ago. The company’s “bluescan-1” product is currently at the advanced prototype stage, and set for commercialization and a manufacturing ramp next year. The company is also working on 3D face scanner using the same AIT technology, which could aid plastic surgeons with procedures such as facial reconstructive surgery.
As well as being smaller and cheaper than its competitors, the miniaturized dental scanner ports directly to a standard USB connection and the 3D models produced can be sent to any dental laboratory in the world for the subsequent mould and impression production.
Digital dentistry is expected to become a significant market in the next few years, providing a new opportunity for suppliers of various optical components required in different types of optical scanner systems. For example Israel-based Ophir Optronics, now a part of Newport Corporation, has a division (Optimet) that has developed a dental scanner based on a laser-based conoscopic holography system.
2011年11月9日星期三
2011年4月1日星期五
Ford's Chocolate Inspired Weight-Saving Technology
There are many areas where weight can be saved by changing the type or grade of metal used to a stronger, lighter material to trim kilos from the kerb weight. Plastic parts are an area where it is traditionally difficult to save weight without sacrificing strength, durability or function, but Ford has found a solution. MuCell technology introduces gas bubbles into the plastic as it is moulded, leaving a microscopic honeycomb structure. These tiny spaces save weight by reducing the amount of plastic used, without compromising the integrity of the part.
Weight plays a key role in vehicle emissions and reducing the overall mass of the vehicle results in improvements to fuel economy and carbon emissions. Vehicle weights have increased in the last 30 years to allow for much greater levels of equipment and radically improved safety attributes. Ford has targeted reducing weight while still providing class leading levels of equipment and 5-star Euro NCAP safety ratings.
MuCell brings a host of other benefits with lower pressures used to mould the plastic and up to 33 per cent more parts per hour than a conventional process. This increase in speed and efficiency reduces energy consumption, manufacturing emissions and cost for parts produced using the innovative technique.
MuCell technology expert Carsten Starke is excited by the potential of the new process. He says: "The first time I saw this plastic under the microscope I thought to myself it looks like an Aero chocolate bar! The bubbles in the chocolate change the taste, but in our plastics they save weight and making cars lighter reduces emissions and fuel consumption significantly.
"We are saving weight in many ways, not just by using this new plastic, because lighter cars handle better, accelerate faster and stop more quickly. For the customer it is win-win, the plastic is 20 per cent lighter without increasing cost or reducing strength and it will help make their Ford better in almost every aspect."
The MuCell technology will see its first application in engine covers which will be rolled out over the next few years on vehicles such as Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, S-MAX, Mondeo and Galaxy. Ford has committed to a minimum of 100kg weight reduction from even its smallest cars and 300kg from larger cars by 2020 as part of its environmental initiatives. This weight-saving initiative, which includes MuCell technology, also features a suite of other materials like high-strength Boron steels which are now used extensively in Ford models.
Weight plays a key role in vehicle emissions and reducing the overall mass of the vehicle results in improvements to fuel economy and carbon emissions. Vehicle weights have increased in the last 30 years to allow for much greater levels of equipment and radically improved safety attributes. Ford has targeted reducing weight while still providing class leading levels of equipment and 5-star Euro NCAP safety ratings.
MuCell brings a host of other benefits with lower pressures used to mould the plastic and up to 33 per cent more parts per hour than a conventional process. This increase in speed and efficiency reduces energy consumption, manufacturing emissions and cost for parts produced using the innovative technique.
MuCell technology expert Carsten Starke is excited by the potential of the new process. He says: "The first time I saw this plastic under the microscope I thought to myself it looks like an Aero chocolate bar! The bubbles in the chocolate change the taste, but in our plastics they save weight and making cars lighter reduces emissions and fuel consumption significantly.
"We are saving weight in many ways, not just by using this new plastic, because lighter cars handle better, accelerate faster and stop more quickly. For the customer it is win-win, the plastic is 20 per cent lighter without increasing cost or reducing strength and it will help make their Ford better in almost every aspect."
The MuCell technology will see its first application in engine covers which will be rolled out over the next few years on vehicles such as Focus, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, S-MAX, Mondeo and Galaxy. Ford has committed to a minimum of 100kg weight reduction from even its smallest cars and 300kg from larger cars by 2020 as part of its environmental initiatives. This weight-saving initiative, which includes MuCell technology, also features a suite of other materials like high-strength Boron steels which are now used extensively in Ford models.
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