Lasers measure up for the car industry

Methods based on laser interferometry applied to the car industry were presented. These techniques were developed through a collaboration between the applied optics group of Rover, a UK-based car manufacturer, and the physics department at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. The methods were afforded by the advancements in optical fibers. Laser measurement methods can be non-contacting and do not disturb the measured system. They also provide full-field information which can be achieved over extended objects.