Skip to main content

Finland’s VTT technology miniaturises measuring devices

According to Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, technology developed by the centre makes it possible to miniaturise an entire measuring laboratory to the size of a small sensor. Using the technology, the Fabry project at VTT has developed smart optical measuring devices for uses that include optimisation of vehicle engines, reduction and monitoring of environmental emissions, and quality control of pharmaceuticals. Participants in the Fabry project to develop spectroscopic sensor devi
May 13, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
According to Finland’s 814 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, technology developed by the centre makes it possible to miniaturise an entire measuring laboratory to the size of a small sensor.

Using the technology, the Fabry project at VTT has developed Smart optical measuring devices for uses that include optimisation of vehicle engines, reduction and monitoring of environmental emissions, and quality control of pharmaceuticals.

Participants in the Fabry project to develop spectroscopic sensor devices based on novel Fabry-Perot interferometers included 260 Continental Automotive, 536 Sick, 7745 Innopharma Labs, 7746 Ocean Optics, 7747 Murata Electronics, Rikola, 7748 Okmetic and VTT Memsfab.

So far, two of the companies involved have launched new products of their own based on the project results. Rikola of Finland has developed the world’s smallest hyperspectral camera, which can be used for surveying fertilisation and irrigation needs in agricultural areas from unmanned aerial vehicles, while the Irish Innopharma Labs manufactures Eyemap cameras for the pharmaceutical industry.

VTT is also in the process of establishing a spin-off company based on the, which it expects to 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.

The Fabry-Perot interferometer makes use of multiple reflections between two closely spaced partially silvered surfaces. Part of the light is transmitted each time the light reaches the second surface, resulting in multiple offset beams which can interfere with each other. The large number of interfering rays produces an interferometer with extremely high resolution, somewhat like the multiple slits of a diffraction grating increase its resolution.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ITS World Congress demo information now available
    September 28, 2015
    With 35 live, technical and interactive ITS demonstrations at this year’s World Congress there will be plenty of opportunities to see and experience first-hand the latest technology being developed and implemented in the industry. Each of the demonstrations will take place in the immediate vicinity of the Congress Exhibition Hall during the World Congress. Some demonstration highlights in each of the categories include: Space technologies and services for ITS: the Satellite Applications Catapult will dis
  • Siemens offers Stamford a ‘bird’s eye view’
    April 29, 2019
    Stamford, Connecticut is a vibrant, diverse community overlooking the Long Island Sound, within commuting distance of New York City. Stamford hosts the largest financial district in the greater New York metro area outside of Manhattan and is home to a high concentration of large corporations and corporate HQs. With a population of 130,000, Stamford is Connecticut’s third largest city and the fastest-growing municipality in the state. Like many US cities, Stamford had previously relied on an antiquated traf
  • Latest ANPR technology from Vysionics
    April 26, 2013
    UK-based traffic solutions provider Vysionics is launching Vector, its latest ANPR camera which the company says captures and reads vehicle number plates across two lanes in all conditions. The camera provides a common platform for multiple ANPR applications, including average speed enforcement; bus lane enforcement; level crossings and red light enforcement; yellow box violations; tolling; and journey time measurement Vysionics states that Vector combines a wealth of ANPR experience into a single, highly c
  • Automatic speed enforcement in Finland
    February 1, 2012
    In 2004, Finland extended its automatic speed enforcement from 280 to 800 road kilometres. Risto Öörni of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, explains the costs and the benefits. Automatic speed enforcement in Finland is operated by the police and is based on cameras installed on poles along main roads and mobile semi-automatic speed enforcement units installed in police cars.