The Photonics Technologies Group has extensive experience in the development of advanced measurement systems for industrial applications for multiple companies and institutions, including optical, electronic, mechanical and optoelectronic technologies.
The active sublines are:
Optoelectronic systems for induction appliances
This sub-line is very much focused on work carried out in collaboration with the company BSH Electrodomésticos España. The objectives are to improve real-time temperature control on induction and gas cookers and to improve optical signalling systems on induction cookers to optimise the user experience.
Optical and microwave instrumentation
The objective of this sub-line is the development of optical field and laboratory equipment for the monitoring and control of industrial processes. Among other applications, we have developed systems for monitoring water quality, characterisation of threads in the textile industry, control in solar thermal power plants, characterisation of coatings on glass or plastic, automotive industry, etc. Recently, within this subline, we have been working on the study of the applications of SFCW (Stepped-Frequency Continuous Wave) radars and, specifically, for the determination of the layer structure of the snowpack and its equivalent in water.
Optical fibre optic and integrated optical sensors and devices
In this sub-line, the objective is to study new applications of distributed acoustic sensing systems for the fields of perimeter security, transport, large infrastructures, etc. These studies are carried out in collaboration with the Aragonese company Aragón Photonics Labs (APL). There are several active projects whose main objective is the sensing of vibrations, elongation and temperature changes in cables with applications in perimeter security in strategic installations, measurement of uncontrolled actions in submarine electric cables, measurement of parameters determining the deflection in overhead electric cables, measurement of bird impact in overhead electric cables and applications in the monitoring of road traffic on roads.
In integrated optics, we collaborate with other Spanish universities within the National Network of Membrane Integrated Photonic Circuits (https://www.mempics.es/), which seeks to promote this field of research and its expansion at national level. In addition, work is being carried out on the development of new integrated circuits for sensor and optical communications applications such as optical receivers for coherent optical communications with a clear practical focus on a commercially viable device.