Precision Morphing And Adaptive Structures (AMPS)

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have developed a method that actively and adaptively corrects imperfections in any structure that is designed to be precisely aligned. The system is called the Adaptive Morphable Precision Structures (AMPS) system. More specifically, they have developed a Morphable Mirror Telescope (MMT) that actively aligns itself as one example. The technology is capable of optimizing performance in real time through the correction of imperfections due to almost any factor, including gravity, temperature, pressure and aging. This real time correction eliminates the need for extra design efforts directed towards resisting such imperfections, and thus achieves a high performance to cost ratio. The AMPS system accomplishes better than 1 micron resolution and 1 micron RMS repeatability at a 4 meter standoff, and it has a robust and weatherproof design. The current system can work to distances approaching 100 meters in radius and the researchers are working on designs that work out to a kilometer and beyond.

File Number: 22163 

Web site: http://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/...

Other Information:

Background

Many modern devices require precisely positioned structures which are physically affected by factors like temperature, pressure and gravity. A system that constantly monitors and corrects alterations due to these factors would simplify the design of such devices and increase performance.