Laser‐Self‐Mixing Interferometry for Mechatronics Applications

Abstract

We report on the development of an all-interferometric optomechatronic sensor for the detection of multi-degrees-of-freedom displacements of a remote target. The prototype system exploits the self-mixing technique and consists only of a laser head, equipped with six laser sources, and a suitably designed reflective target. The feasibility of the system was validated experimentally for both single or multi-degrees-of-freedom measurements, thus demonstrating a simple and inexpensive alternative to costly and bulky existing systems.

Keywords

• physical sensors
• displacement measurement
• self-mixing
• interferometry
• mechatronics
• semiconductor laser
• six degrees-of-freedom