Holographic Labelling Techniques for Automatic Identification in CIM Environments

HIDCIM - 2127

Keywords holographics, identification systems, labelling, material tracking, component tracking, component identification

Start Date: 01-MAY-89 / Duration: 30 months

[ contact / participants ]

Objectives and Approach

The objective of this project was to demonstrate the feasibility of holographic labelling techniques for automatic identification in a computerised industrial environment. A system based on holographic labels will have the following advantages:

• large data capacity
• immunity to electrical, mechanical and chemical interference
• simple low-cost read-out
• wide range of reading distances
• simple, small low-cost labels.

The programme included the following tasks:

• development of holographic storage techniques, providing redundancy and permitting movement of the image and long-distance read-out
• assessment of a low-cost label material, suitable for large-scale production, easy to handle, and able to withstand an industrial environment
• development of the hologon disk of a write station with the ability to generate holograms
• development of a read station with the ability to recognise a label, reconstruct the stored holographic pattern and decode it
• simulation of the information path from pattern generation via holographic decoding, reconstruction, interpretation and recovery of the original contents.

The applicability for CIM was demonstrated, within a real environment, in a tool identification system for the computer-integrated manufacture of mechanical parts.

Exploitation

The project partners are well placed to exploit the results of the project. Following internal experimentation with the system in one partner's own production facilities, the system's components are expected to be exploited commercially within five years of the completion of the project.

CONTACT POINT

Dr Siegfried Wald
KRUPP FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT
Münchenerstr. 100
D - 4300 ESSEN 1
tel: + 49/ 201 188 4060
fax: + 49/ 201 188 2577
telex: 201899

Participants

KRUPP FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT - D - C
ICI IMAGEDATA - UK - P
UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO - P - P
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON - UK - P
MANDELLI SPA - I - P

HIDCIM - 2127, December 1993

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html version of synopsis by Nick Cook