FRONTIERS PHOTONICS


LASER MARKING


F1 teams track car parts using lasers


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aser marking is helping Formula 1 teams trace hundreds of car parts as


they are shipped from race to race across the globe. The technique is helping teams


abide by the new traceability standards introduced by the FIA motorsport governing body in 2023. After each F1 race, components


are stripped from the cars and returned to base, where they are put through vigorous testing to ensure they are in top shape and ready to be put back on the car for the next round of the season. The FIA’s newly-introduced


standards state that teams must be able to track and trace all components throughout their entire life cycle, from production to redundancy.


Laser marking is used to


engrave or etch patterns on the parts, and because it can be used with all car materials, including


AUTOMOTIVE/TRANSPORT


metals, plastics, ceramics, and composites, teams can maintain consistent traceability across diverse components. According to Needham Laser


Technologies, which has several of its N-Lase machines in situ at different F1 suppliers and F1 teams, the technique is also popular because it provides the


flexibility to provide either square or round matrix elements, as well as the ability to create small codes (down to 1 x 1mm), which cannot be achieved using other methods like inkjet, chemical etching or dot peen. Data matrix codes are the


standard mark globally within the automotive and aerospace


industries because they are resistant to marking defects, have built-in error correction and minimum print contrasts of 20% when read with industrial camera systems. The codes correspond to when and how parts are made, how long they are used, where they were used and their overall performance. l


COMPUTER VISION


Robots deliver groceries to your door


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elivery robots have become a familiar sight in towns and cities across


Europe, making more than four million deliveries since 2018. In 2022, Robot maker Starship


Technologies partnered with local councils and shops in the UK to bring the technology to cities such as Cambridge, Leeds and Manchester. The robots operate at Level 4 autonomy, which means they are not controlled remotely and require only minimal human interaction during each journey. The machines operate at more than 99% autonomy, while some robots are now making multiple deliveries in a row, 100% autonomously. Human remote assistants are available on


standby, in case they are called upon for support. Each robot is GPS-tracked to


the nearest inch and is equipped with 12 cameras, time-of-flight capabilities, ultrasonic sensors, radar, computer vision, and other technology. They travel at around 4mph – similar to a fast pedestrian walking speed – and are able to navigate around objects and people they may come across. The technology allows


the robot to detect vehicles, pedestrians and other objects around them to cross roads and navigate pavements. Crossing points are mapped along with pavement routes before operating in an area, meaning robots will only cross roads at


The robots can cross roads and navigate pavements


agreed crossing points. They can understand if and how fast objects are moving and will either move manoeuvre around or safely come to a stop until the route has cleared The robots can carry up to


three bags of groceries and the lid is locked throughout the journey. The device is only able


to be unlocked by the customer at the delivery destination, who can track the robot on their phone using the same app from which the groceries were ordered. As well as the robots being relatively heavy to pick up or move, if someone tries to lift, tip or tamper with the robot, a loud alarm will sound, acting as a deterrent. l


30 Photonics Frontiers 2023


JulieStar/Shutterstock.com


Abdul Razak Latif/Shutterstock.com


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