Electro-optic product design for manufacture: where next?

John R. M. Barr; M. MacDonald; G. Jeffery; M. Troughton

doi:10.1117/12.2243915

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21 October 2016 Electro-optic product design for manufacture: where next?

John R. M. Barr, M. MacDonald, G. Jeffery, M. Troughton

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Proceedings Volume 9989, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures XIII; 99890F (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2243915
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Manufacturing of electro-optic products for military environments poses a large number of apparently intractable and mutually contradictory problems. The ability to successfully engage in this area presents an intellectual challenge of a high order. The Advanced Targeting Sector of Leonardo’s Airborne and Space Systems Division, based in Edinburgh, has developed a successful range of electro-optic products and transitioned these into a volume, and high value, manufacturing environment. As products cycle through the design process, there has been strong feedback from users, suppliers, and most importantly from our manufacturing organization, that has driven evolution of our design practices. It is fair to say that recent pointer trackers and lasers bear little resemblance to those designed and built 10 years ago. Looking ahead, this process will only continue. There are interesting technologies that will drive improvements in manufacturability, reliability and usability of electro-optic products. Examples might include freeform optics, additive manufacture of metal components, and laser welding of optics to metals, to name but a few. These have uses across our product portfolio and, when sufficiently matured, will have a major impact on the product quality and reliability

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John R. M. Barr, M. MacDonald, G. Jeffery, and M. Troughton "Electro-optic product design for manufacture: where next?", Proc. SPIE 9989, Technologies for Optical Countermeasures XIII, 99890F (21 October 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2243915

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