ID :
44013
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 20:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/44013
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean researchers develop 'fast tracking' telescope-camera
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean researchers said Tuesday that they have developed a telescope-camera combination that can instantly track and film events that occur without prior warning.
The Ewha Womans University team led by Park Il-hung said the micro-electro
mechanical systems (MEMS) is the first of its kind in the world and is capable of
following events like lightning and the movement of super-fast projectiles.
The key to the technology lies with the so-called micro-electromechanical systems
telescope for extreme lightning (MTEL) that can react to and focus on events that
can occur in the blink of an eye.
"If this equipment is placed on a space station, it has the capability to track
light sources traveling at light speed on the Earth's surface, while if it is
placed on the ground, the telescope can successfully follow a bullet that is
moving a meter away from the lens," the scientist said.
He added that such capabilities could enable the system to be used for next
generation space telescopes, hightech commercial surveillance cameras and for
military purposes.
The professor of mathematical and physical sciences said this tracking ability is
possible because the large number of micro-mirrors are designed to move
independently and align themselves at the best possible angle to collect light,
essential for good imaging.
Ordinary reflector telescopes use a single mirror to collect light, requiring
them to move their entire frames to catch images not directly in front of them.
This process takes time and can result in missed images.
Park said that most of the technologies developed have been submitted for
international patents and is to be published in the February edition of the Laser
Focus World journal. A total of 28 patent rights protection applications have
been submitted.
The team, meanwhile, said a compact MEMS unit is to be sent into space on a
Russia science satellite in April, with development underway to build a larger
device that can help scientists conduct research related to gamma ray bursts that
happen randomly in space and are the biggest explosions observed so far.
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean researchers said Tuesday that they have developed a telescope-camera combination that can instantly track and film events that occur without prior warning.
The Ewha Womans University team led by Park Il-hung said the micro-electro
mechanical systems (MEMS) is the first of its kind in the world and is capable of
following events like lightning and the movement of super-fast projectiles.
The key to the technology lies with the so-called micro-electromechanical systems
telescope for extreme lightning (MTEL) that can react to and focus on events that
can occur in the blink of an eye.
"If this equipment is placed on a space station, it has the capability to track
light sources traveling at light speed on the Earth's surface, while if it is
placed on the ground, the telescope can successfully follow a bullet that is
moving a meter away from the lens," the scientist said.
He added that such capabilities could enable the system to be used for next
generation space telescopes, hightech commercial surveillance cameras and for
military purposes.
The professor of mathematical and physical sciences said this tracking ability is
possible because the large number of micro-mirrors are designed to move
independently and align themselves at the best possible angle to collect light,
essential for good imaging.
Ordinary reflector telescopes use a single mirror to collect light, requiring
them to move their entire frames to catch images not directly in front of them.
This process takes time and can result in missed images.
Park said that most of the technologies developed have been submitted for
international patents and is to be published in the February edition of the Laser
Focus World journal. A total of 28 patent rights protection applications have
been submitted.
The team, meanwhile, said a compact MEMS unit is to be sent into space on a
Russia science satellite in April, with development underway to build a larger
device that can help scientists conduct research related to gamma ray bursts that
happen randomly in space and are the biggest explosions observed so far.
