Page 10: of Marine Technology Magazine (March 2020)

Tech Files

Innovative products, technologies and concepts

Maritime Blue-Light Laser Discovered

An EU maritime study has identi? ed cy-doubled ? ber laser. printers.

a record-breaking ‘blue-light’ laser for “The absorption of light in pure water The global photonics market is ex- the maritime industry. is lowest in the 400-450nm spectral pected to surpass $688 billion in 2020.

Scientists working on the $1 million range. Laser light set in this range can Between 2005 and 2015, it showed a

KETmaritime project have released a penetrate long distances with minimal real annual growth rate of 7pc, which is detailed report on the potential of ‘Pho- reduction in strength. These light sourc- twice as fast as global GDP growth and tonic Marine Applications’. es can be used to determine distances, higher than many other sectors includ-

The latest report, which has been or by means of Lidar techniques record ing food (2pc) and automotive (3-5pc).

produced by Spanish research cen- underwater objects, like submarines Ms Vila said the new report identi? es ter AIMEN, reveals new boundaries and archaeological sites. Conventional photonics as one of the most impor- broken in marine laser development methods to detect underwater tar- tant technologies for the 21st century. – enhancing the detection of underwa- gets have employed acoustic waves. “Through recently acquired knowledge ter objects including submarines and However, laser-based systems have and technological breakthroughs we are archaeological sites. clear advantages in high directionality ready to pro? t from the ‘photonic revo-

Project coordinator Ana Vila from and high range resolution. They also lution’ achieving greater advances and the International Iberian Nanotechnol- allow new methods of wide-band and control in the application of light across ogy Laboratory (INL) said: “In recent interception-proofed communication.” many high-tech markets,” she said. “In months, France-based multidisciplinary The study of ‘photonics’ seeks to the coming years, the maritime sector research laboratory CIMAP has been generate, control and detect photons – will greatly bene? t from a broad variety actively developing blue-light lasers an elementary particle of light carrying of applications of photonic devices.

in constant wave and pulsed regimes,” energy. It can be used to concentrate “It has become an increasingly ac- she said. “It recently achieved a record beams for cutting and welding as well cessible technology with particular 7.5W constant wave output at 452nm as 3D scanning and surgical applica- relevance to Structural Health Monitor- wavelength. This is understood to be tions, through to more ‘ordinary’ ing of marine assets, as well as Virtual by far the highest constant wave ‘pure applications, such as presence detection and Augmented Reality across ship- blue’ power generated from a frequen- for door control, bar code scanning and building. It will also play a particularly important role in the development of detection and recognition systems ap- plicable to areas including navigation,

The KETmaritime consortium tracking of objects and masses at sea delivering a major pan-Eu- ropean project showcasing and maritime rescue.” ‘next-generation’ technology.

The KETmaritime project is funded by the Interreg Atlantic Area Program, via the European Regional Devel- opment Fund and is delivered by a consortium of seven partners across

Europe.

The consortium includes French multidisciplinary research laboratory

CIMAP (CEA group), Portuguese maritime economic cluster Fórum

Oceano and Spanish industrial design center IDONIAL. Ireland’s national center for marine and renewable energy

MaREI and UK marine cluster organi- zation Marine South East are delivering further support, alongside Spanish non- pro? t research association AIMEN.

KETmaritime 2020 March 10 MTR

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