Grant: Idea to Innovation

High-speed three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging by structured-light profilometry is currently driven by industrial needs, medical applications, and entertainment. According to Market Research Future Analysis, the global 3D camera market has been valued at ~US$13.4 Billion by the end of 2026 with 14.2% of a compound annual growth rate during the forecast period from 2020 to 2026. However, the limited speeds in fringe pattern projection, image acquisition, and data transmission have strained the existing methods from reaching kilohertz (kHz)-level acquisition, processing, and display of 3D information during the occurrence of dynamic events (i.e., in real time).To overcome these limitations, we recently invented CoaXPress-interfaced band-limited illumination profilometry (CI-BLIP), which enables real-time 3D surface information reconstruction at 1 kHz. Compared with the existing technologies, CI-BLIP has advantages in the convenient system operation, the high-speed real-time response, and the easier system miniaturization. Our initial tests have shown the promising potential of CI-BLIP to diverse applications, including industrial inspection, aerodynamics, and machine vision.This NSERC I2I Phase I project aims to further developing the CI-BLIP technique toward a commercial product. In total, three Aims are proposed to integrate the proof-of-concept CI-BLIP system into a compact prototype, to improve image reconstruction speed in CI-BLIP, and to demonstrate real-time high-speed 3D surface imaging using the CI-BLIP prototype. The well-established technical foundation, solid preliminary results, and highly experienced team will ensure the on-time execution and fast progress of this project. In this regard, this project will pave the way for future technology transfer and device commercialization.