INRS team sets new record for ultrafast 3D imaging speed

New technology captures fleeting motion

A research team led by professor Jinyang Liang developed C-BLIP, a system capable of visualizing collisions and aerodynamic motion in three dimensions. The study published in Nature Communications confirms this speed represents a new world record for profilometry. Scientists successfully measured the collision between a projectile and a turbofan blade using this method. They also captured the aerodynamics of a falling maple samara and vibrations on a loudspeaker membrane.

System design overcomes previous limits

Current ultrafast imaging systems often suffer from high costs or complex image reconstruction requirements. The new approach combines a cost-effective optical design with eye-safe LED illumination to address these issues. Postdoctoral researcher Cheng Jiang noted that the lightweight reconstruction method makes the technology more practical for various environments. The team is now integrating GPU-accelerated processing to potentially enable real-time visualization in future iterations.

Applications span multiple scientific fields

This breakthrough opens opportunities for studying dynamic phenomena in mechanics, aerodynamics, microfluidics and additive manufacturing. The system can detect ultrasonic vibrations on an object surface and extract acoustic information from them. Professor Liang stated the technology allows continuous capture of fast nonrepeatable three-dimensional phenomena previously difficult to quantify. These capabilities help scientists better understand dynamic events across a wide range of technological fields.