University of Strathclyde
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Focus: Research news
Photonics space technology comes back down to Earth
T
echnology originally developed for the exploration of Mars is being commercialised for use in Earth- based applications. Mirico, a spin-off from the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), has received an investment of £1 million to bring its laser isotopic analyser to market, whereas research centre, RAL Space, has tested its robotic arm technology for use in agricultural monitoring. The laser analyser developed by Mirico could
have applications in climate change monitoring, diagnosing disease and detecting counterfeit foods, the company has said. The £1 million investment is anticipated to help Mirico further develop the instrument for use in these new applications. The device was originally developed to
understand the atmosphere on Mars, and in a robust and lightweight design needed for space work, can provide instant analysis of gases across a wide range of applications. The technology uses lasers to measure gases in
real time, targeting molecules with an immense degree of precision. Dr Damien Weidmann, CEO for Mirico, said:
‘We looked into technical solutions to make real time, highly sensitive isotopic analysers small enough and robust enough for space. We came up with a novel approach using mid infrared lasers that solves some issues of standard isotopic analysis instrumentation. Exploring potential business cases, it became clear to us that many “terrestrial” applications also became relevant.’
The analyser could be used for diagnosing medical conditions through testing human breath, verifying the origin and authenticity of goods in the food and wine industry, and for identifying sources of carbon dioxide in the environment. There is also potential for using the instrument to increase the efficiency of industrial processes, such as those in oil and gas or power plants.
Other space equipment being redesigned for use on Earth is robotic arm technology,
The
AgriRover device
which has been developed into an agricultural monitoring device. The instrument has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of farming and could help improve crop yields. The analyser, called AgriRover, consists of a mobile rover platform with a robotic arm that carries a soil sensing instrument. It is based on technology developed by RAL Space, and will be used in a new project being run at the University of Strathclyde. As part of a trial, Strathclyde researchers, will demonstrate the feasibility of the device’s agricultural operation by using an integrated, force feedback-controlled robotic system on the ground. STFC’s RAL Space team will also design and build the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument for soil quality characterisation.
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