Sensors for Inspection – and They’re Making Cows Happier!

Karen A. Newman, Group Publisher, karen.newman@photonics.com

If you’re attending the Sensors Expo & Conference 2015 in June, be sure to check out the Optical Sensing and Detection education track, and visit Photonics Media in booth 354. More information about the event, which rotates this year to the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif., can be found at SensorsExpo.com.

In our cover feature, contributing editor Hank Hogan delivers an “udderly” fresh view of photonics-based 3-D sensors, featuring an application inside the milk house that is boosting production of cereal’s favorite partner. The article is not limited to 3-D sensors and cows: No matter what the application, Hogan says, industrial sensors “should be relatively inexpensive compared to the payback” and “able to withstand harsh treatments.” Enjoy the feature, “Sensors Go Out, Up, Down and Around,” beginning on the front of this issue.

Also in this issue:

• “Lens-Free Imaging for Large-Surface Industrial Inspection,” by Jan Provoost, imec, on page 11;

• “Laser Safety Considerations for Industrial Environments,” by Ken Barat, Laser Safety Solutions, on page 14;

• “3-D Smart Sensor Improves Feature Inspection in Assembly,” by Walter Pastorius, LMI Technologies, on page 17; and

• “WASPS Poised to Bring Tunable Sources for Quantum Communications,” by Jason Smith, University of Oxford, on page 20.

If you would like to write an article for Industrial Photonics, please send a 100-word abstract to Editor Rodd M. Pedrotti at Rodd.Pedrotti@photonics.com.

Please check out Photonics Media’s newest reader service: the free one-click “Send Info Request.” When you see a product in this issue that interests you, go to Photonics.com/rsip and fill out the form. Our advertisers will be happy to send current product information.

Enjoy the issue.