Flexible new optics facilities with electronics and computer systems integration in a renovated building at a smaller state university

Abstract

A renovated facility is being used for a broad-based and flexible approach to teaching optics and optical systems at the undergraduate and M.S. levels. The range of topics included in the curriculum is from conventional geometrical and physical optics to laser physics, optical transformations, electro-optical devices, remote sensing and digital image processing. Emphasis of this paper is on the design and use of the new facilities, and the interrelationships of the various areas presented. The optics complex contains conventional optics teaching laboratory space with soft walls, an electronics teaching laboratory, a holography laboratory with darkroom, and a remote sensing computer simulation modeling and digital image processing laboratory. Moreover, a machine vision facility is a computer networked extended part of the digital image processing systems in an operational mode involving interfaced flexible machine cells. These cells are robotics interfaced in a flexible manufacturing system that is capable of process and machine part prototyping computer networked with a CAD system.