Technology that miniaturises measuring devices
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed smart optical measuring devices with companies for uses that include optimisation of vehicle engines, reduction and monitoring of environmental emissions, and quality control of pharmaceuticals. The FABRY research project aimed at utilisation of VTT-developed technologies to enable commercialisation of new products on global markets. So far, two of the companies involved – Rikola Ltd from Finland and InnoPharma Labs from Ireland – have launched products of their own. VTT’s technology makes it possible to miniaturise an entire measuring laboratory to the size of a small sensor.
Originally, VTT developed these optical measurement technologies and the associated micromechanical Fabry-Perot interferometer components for the purpose of carbon dioxide measurements. The technology has many other applications, however. VTT joined together with eight companies in the Tekes-financed FABRY project in order to create business from the technology in the form of new products.
In the course of the project, five of the companies started a product development project of their own based on the project results. So far, two of the companies have launched a new product on the market. Rikola Ltd manufactures and sells the world’s smallest hyperspectral camera, which can be used, for example, for surveying fertilisation and irrigation needs in agricultural areas from UAVs. The Irish InnoPharma Labs manufactures Eyemap cameras for the pharmaceutical industry, facilitating rapid verification of the drug ingredients and their distribution in a tablet.
VTT is also in the process of establishing a spin-off company based on this technology, with expected launch in May 2014.
“Apart from new business operations, optical measurement technology also has an impact on employment. In the long run, this could create dozens, or maybe even hundreds of new jobs in Finland,” says Jarkko Antila, Senior Scientist at VTT, who has been coordinating the project.
Fabry-perot interferometer
The principle of optical measurement, developed at the end of the 19thcentury, is a widely used technique, for example in astronomy. Expensive scientific instruments are used to identify and measure different materials based on their characteristic spectral lines, thus obtaining information about the composition of the target. VTT has combined this technology with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), creating an affordable, very small and adjustable spectral filter. This makes it possible to miniaturise an entire measuring laboratory to the size of a small sensor.
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