Learn the fundamentals of lighting, imaging technologies, and motion analysis in this dynamic course, designed specifically for scientists, engineers, and imaging specialists who need to gather data on rapidly moving subjects and events. Guided by leading experts, you’ll overcome common challenges, including trade-offs between depth-of-field, field-of-view, resolution, and lighting requirements by selecting the appropriate lens(es) to capture clear, crisp, images.
Course Overview
THIS COURSE MAY BE TAKEN INDIVIDUALLY OR AS part of THE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN DESIGN & MANUFACTURING.
This program is designed for scientists, engineers, and imaging specialists who need to gather data on rapidly moving subjects and events for study, motion analysis, and trouble-shooting. Mornings are spent in the lecture hall learning the fundamentals of lighting, imaging technologies, and motion analysis. Afternoons are spent making high-speed images in the laboratory. In addition to carrying out the standard techniques, attendees will try out the latest in high-speed-imaging equipment, with the manufacturer's representatives there to provide hands-on education and experience with the systems. The course is held at the Edgerton Center at MIT — the home of Doc Edgerton's Stroboscopic Light Laboratory, where much of the history of the field was written.
With support from the leading manufacturers and consultants, this program features the broadest experience available anywhere in high-speed electronic imaging and image analysis. The scope of the program should make it invaluable to anyone who wishes to broaden their capabilities in the field of high-speed imaging.
Unique features of this program include:
Hands-on experience: This course emphasizes hands-on experience! Approximately 50% of our time is devoted to intensively immersing each attendee in practical laboratory work. Lectures by experts in their fields and study materials help attendees prepare for laboratory work by providing the requisite theoretical and practical insights.
Use the techniques you study: All attendees participate in lab experiments selected from an unparalleled variety of topics. Experiments include high-speed cameras, lenses and lighting, the latest imaging technologies, motion analysis software, as well as specialized techniques such as Schlieren imaging, streak cameras, and pulsed laser illumination.
Learn the details through experiments: Experiments are performed in small working groups, with experts in that technique on hand to answer questions and enter into extensive discussions. The lab experiences are structured to encourage participants to use their imaginations and to experiment with the technique under study. Attendees may bring with them work-related problems that will make suitable experimental subjects to be shared with the class, but please consult with the course staff in advance.
MIT Edgerton Center: The MIT Edgerton Center was created in 1992 to carry on the legacy of the late Professor Edgerton. Its three-fold mission is to be a center of excellence in high-speed imaging within MIT, to provide students at MIT with opportunities for hands-on learning, and to continue Edgerton's legacy of communicating the importance and excitement of science and technology to the larger community.
To view pictures from prior courses, please visit our Flickr album.
Participant Takeaways
- Defining the fundamental principles of high-speed photography and videography, both for human interpretation and for motion analysis with a computer.
- Making the trade-off between depth-of-field, field-of-view, resolution, and lighting requirements by selecting the appropriate lens(es) to capture clear, crisp, images of the event under study.
- Selecting the correct lighting technologies and design the lighting arrangements for an experiment.
- Analyzing the resulting images to get a real world understanding of how a specific technology may apply to an application.
- Assessing methods of merging high-speed electronic images and instrumentation data for in-depth analysis of mechanical events.
Who Should Attend
This course is aimed at all professionals, and is applicable to any individual in an industry, academic, or government sector who must:
- Test, maintain, or troubleshoot high-speed manufacturing equipment
- Evaluate how products withstand impacts
- Observe projectiles in flight or upon impact
- Visualize flows in aerosols, liquids, or granular materials
- Capture the motions of people, animals, and objects
- Study crash tests
- Understand any actions that occur too fast for the eye to follow
Relevant industry sectors include manufacturing, academic research, energy, biotech, aerospace, and ballistics.
Requirements
Because course materials will be distributed electronically, laptops or tablets with the ability to display PDF files are required for this course.
Program Outline
This schedule is subject to change and a revised version will be provided soon.
Class begins at 9:00 am every day and ends between 5:00 and 5:45 pm except Thursday when it ends at 9:00 pm.
Special events include a dinner and presentations of case studies by course participants on Thursday evening.
Participants are encouraged to present their own high-speed imaging and motion-analysis applications to the course. The staff will, where practical, use these applications to illustrate the advantages and drawbacks of the techniques being taught.
Mornings are spent in the lecture hall learning the fundamentals, while afternoons are spent in the laboratory. In addition to carrying out the standard techniques, attendees will try out the latest in high-speed-imaging equipment, with the manufacturer's representatives there to provide hands-on education and experience with the systems. Attendees will work in small teams applying their learning to create solutions to case studies posed at the start of the program.
The course will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to High-Speed Photography and Videography: Fundamentals of exposure, lighting, and lenses. Overview of the various methods we will cover, with particular emphasis on the pros and cons of the various methods.
- Lighting for High-Speed Imaging: Detailed descriptions of lighting options. Discussion of advantages and disadvantages of continuous and intermittent lighting with film and with video. Presentation of advanced lighting techniques.
- State of the Art in High-Speed Imaging: In-depth discussion of current products in film and video systems. Topics include gated imaging, image intensifiers for low-light applications, high-speed video (color and black and white), imaging for machine vision applications, and evaluating cost-performance tradeoffs.
- Data Analysis: Introduction to the analysis of high-speed film and electronic images. Also, the latest trends in integrating high-speed imaging with electronic data acquisition systems. Discussion of commercial motion analysis packages.
Organizers:
- Dr. James W. Bales, Instructor, Edgerton Center
- Mr. Don Thomas, Industry Advisory Committee, Edgerton Center
- Ms. Sandi Lipnoski, Edgerton Center
- Prof. J. Kim Vandiver, Director, Edgerton Center
Additional lectures and laboratory experiences will be presented by experts from the high-speed imaging industry.
Links & Resources
News/Articles:
- The Boston Globe celebrates MIT's 150th Anniversary with a list of 150 top innovations from the Institute--click here to read #78, Stopping Time at the MIT Edgerton Center.
Videos/Articles:
The type of content you will learn in this course, whether it's a foundational understanding of the subject, the hottest trends and developments in the field, or suggested practical applications for industry.
How the course is taught, from traditional classroom lectures and riveting discussions to group projects to engaging and interactive simulations and exercises with your peers.
What level of expertise and familiarity the material in this course assumes you have. The greater the amount of introductory material taught in the course, the less you will need to be familiar with when you attend.