VIS - Telesensor

The VIS is an innovative laser measuring system that characterizes the behavior of structures under dynamic loads.

The VIS - Speckle tracking Infrared Vibrometer - is an instrument for remote measurement of vibrations that characterize the behaviour of structures subjected to dynamic loads. With a laser emission around 1 mW the device is able to detect target vibrations induced by micro-seismicity, wind, traffic and other human activities.

Unlike other “in situ” sensors, it can be positioned up to 100 meters from the surface to be monitored and does not need to be positioned perpendicular to the target surface, ensuring accurate measurements even in areas that are difficult to access.

Patents

SpacEarth Technology holds the rights to intellectual property and commercial exploitation

• Vibration remote sensor based on speckled tracking, which uses an optical-inertial accelerometer, and method for correcting the vibrational noise of such a sensor (102020000006703) -31/3/2020
• Speckle-tracking vibration telesensor with dual optical receiver and method of correcting the vibrational noise of such a telesensor (102023000016242) - 1/8/2023
• Vibrometro a tracciamento di speckle a ridotta intensità di emissione luminosa (102025000021085) - 8/8/2025
• Vibrometro a tracciamento di speckle ad elevato guadagno (102025000021097) - 8/8/2025

Operating Principle

The main feature that distinguishes VIS from other optical vibration sensors is that it is based on the reception of light scattered from the target surface. When coherent laser light illuminates a rough surface, a random diffraction image is produced, known as a speckle pattern, which is extremely sensitive to microscopic details on the reflecting surface. Vibrations in the structure change the inclination of the illuminated surface and, consequently, the speckle pattern. The received scattered light beam is adjusted and projected onto optical sensors in order to detect angular velocities and other derived quantities in VIS-1 and spatial shifts in VIS-2.

Technical Specifications

The VIS is a compact, lightweight instrument comprising a laser, an optical system consisting of a distance-adjustable lens and lenses capable of modifying the received light beam, and one or two optical sensors connected to a minicomputer for acquiring and processing data for vibration analysis. Data transfer to and from the VIS can be done wirelessly through SSH protocol or via a direct connection.

¹ VIS-1 Measures angular quantities - ² VIS-2 Measures linear quantities

Demonstration Video

See the extraordinary sensitivity of the VIS in action