Cutting Grocery Costs with Sensors

The prototype sensor system developed by TMOS Chief Investigator Professor Madhu Bhaskaran and her team at RMIT in Melbourne is set to revolutionize imaging technology. This innovative system features a filter made with a thin layer of vanadium dioxide, a material known for its unique properties that enable it to switch between edge detection and detailed infrared imaging.

“Materials such as vanadium dioxide add a fantastic tuning capability to render devices 'smart',” Professor Bhaskaran explained. “When the temperature of the filter is changed, the vanadium dioxide transforms from an insulating state to a metallic one, allowing the processed image to shift from a filtered outline to an unfiltered infrared image.”

One of the key advantages of this technology is its potential application in futuristic flat-optics devices. These devices could potentially replace traditional lenses in environmental sensing applications, making them highly suitable for use in drones and satellites where compact size, low weight, and power efficiency are crucial factors.

RMIT has already secured a granted US patent and has a pending Australian patent application for its method of producing vanadium dioxide films. This indicates the broad range of potential applications for this technology, highlighting its versatility and significance in the field of imaging and sensor systems.

Lead author Dr. Michele Cotrufo emphasized the system's remarkable ability to seamlessly switch between processing operations, from edge detection to capturing detailed infrared images. This flexibility and adaptability make the system a valuable asset in various imaging scenarios, offering enhanced functionality and performance.

The groundbreaking research conducted by engineers from the City University of New York (CUNY), the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, and the ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) has been published in Nature Communications. The paper titled “Reconfigurable image processing metasurfaces with phase-change materials” showcases the potential of this technology to reshape the landscape of imaging systems and pave the way for future advancements in the field.