As the ESA Technology Broker UK, we have been collating potential solutions for the space industry, including automated, high resolution optical inspection systems for advanced manufacturing, courtesy of Taraz Metrology.
Created by the University of Nottingham’s Manufacturing Metrology Team, Taraz Metrology provides high-quality measurement solutions that play a critical role in quality assurance for production processes around the globe, driving sustainability and efficiencies across different industry sectors.
Taraz Metrology’s non-contact, optical inspection systems are powered by AI, allowing for fast, traceable, full-part measurement and smart feature detection, which is suited to space sector R&D and production.
The system automates the inspection and analysis of surface and form characteristics of manufactured components, performing full-field 3D surface measurements and geometric analysis to capture detailed special data in seconds without the need for physical contact, alignment tooling or complex set-up procedures.
The measurements are obtained by projecting a patterned light source onto the surface of the part being tested. Any deformation in the reflected pattern is recorded with calibrated cameras and then processed with advanced algorithms to reconstruct the 3D shape of the surface at high spatial resolution. Artificial intelligence is then applied to enhance feature recognition, filter out measurement noise and classify the form and surface characteristics.
The system architecture has been designed to be modular and is optimised for ready integration into automated environments such as robotic inspection cells and cleanroom testing stations. The system also supports seamless data logging, comparisons against CAD models, and real-time feedback for process control or R&D studies.
For the space sector, this technology is suitable to validate structural components, inspect propulsion and fluid system parts, align optics and sensors, process development for additive manufacturing, and for post-environmental testing assessment. It can also find applications in research and prototyping, offering rapid design validation, reverse engineering, and feedback-driven development of next-generation components.
The technology supports both R&D (e.g., material validation, process tuning) and production environments by enabling smart, high-throughput inspection without compromising on measurement traceability or resolution. It is particularly suited to space applications where lightweight structures, complex geometries, and strict tolerances must be validated quickly and non-destructively.
Find Out More
You can find out more about this technology solution, here: https://www.esa-technology-broker.co.uk/technologies/fast-traceable-ai-powered-optical-inspection-for-complex-surface-and-form-measurement
If you would like to explore this technology further for potential applications, please get in touch with us by emailing contactus@esa-technology-broker.co.uk.