Arago, an optical technology platform for industry

Are you a manufacturer or SME looking to experiment with a breakthrough idea? Or are you looking for innovative technological solutions, but don't have the time or technical resources to put them into practice? Perhaps the solution is to try your luck with a technology platform.

Arago can help you turn these new ideas into reality. Arago was designed to foster innovation and technology transfer from research. It is home to top-level scientific skills and technological facilities. Nexter, Surys and Valéo are among the companies that have already placed their trust in the Carnot Télécom & Société Numérique's component platform specialized in optics. Arago has given them access to a range of high-end technologies: design, modeling and production of micro-optics, and electro-optical functions based on liquid crystals and composite materials for vision and protection. Applications range from protective and corrective eyewear to encryption and holographic marking. Jean-Louis de Bougrenet, researcher at IMT Atlantique and creator of the Arago platform, took us step by step through a wealth of technical know-how.

Health and measuring the impact of new technologies

Healthcare is one area that benefits directly from Arago's potential. To this end, the platform can count on the 3D Fovéa Scientific Interest Group (GIS), which brings together IMT Atlantique, the Brest Hospital and INSERM, and has led to the creation of the Orthoptica spin-off (French leader in digital orthoptic tools). It was through this spin-off that the platform developed the Binoculus orthoptic tool.

The new technology, which operates as a digital platform, is designed to replace the existing, less ergonomic tools used by orthoptists. The technology consists solely of a computer, a pair of 3D glasses and a video projector. It thus democratizes a technology by reducing test times. The glasses feature shutter lenses that enable the practitioner to block each eye in synchronization with the projected content. This orthoptic tool makes it possible to assess the different degrees of binocular vision. It is designed to help teenagers with fixation and concentration problems.

Acting for health now is all very well, but anticipating tomorrow's needs is just as important. In this sense, the platform plays an important role with ANSES in assessing the risks associated with the deployment of new immersive technologies such as augmented reality headsets like the Oculus Vive. " When the visual system is involved, an impact study based on scientific and clinical criteria is essential," explains Jean-Louis de Bougrenet. These assessments are based on in-depth tests carried out on clinical samples in conjunction with hospitals such as Necker, G. Pompidou and the CHRU de Brest.

Diffractive micro-optics and liquid crystal applications

At the same time, Arago benefits from the expertise of researchers with decades of experience in liquid crystal engineering (Pierre-Gilles de Gennes laboratory). " These materials offer very significant electro-optical effects, enabling light to be modulated in different ways at low voltages," explains Jean-Louis de Bougrenet.

Researchers have used liquid crystals for numerous industrial applications (protective eyewear, spectral filters, etc.). In fact, liquid crystals are already well established in our immediate environment, without us even noticing. They are used in flat screens, 3D and augmented reality glasses, and as a camouflage technique(smart skin). Over the years, Arago has built up manufacturing and testing resources that are unique in France (including over 150 m² of cleanroom space).

Other objects are also ubiquitous in our daily lives, and can even be found in our smartphones: diffractive micro-optics. One of the special features of diffractive micro-optics is that they come in different sizes. Arago has equipped itself with all the tools needed to play on this scale, both individually and collectively, using transfer processes that can be easily industrialized. " We use these micro-optics in many fields, such as the manufacture of security holograms, biometric recognition, quality control and the automotive industry," explains Jean-Louis de Bougrenet. Recently, the researchers have developed a technique known as two-photon photopolymerization, enabling finer details to be inscribed in the volume.

European ambitions

Arago is also involved in a number of other projects. Since 2016, it has hosted an IRT BCom platform. This is dedicated to the development of free-space ultra-high-speed optical transmission systems for wireless links for virtual reality headsets in a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE).

Already well integrated into the Breton landscape, Arago recently signed a technological partnership with the INL (International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, a CERN-type European platform). This involves the pooling of resources, privileged access to technologies and the setting up of joint European projects. The INL is unique in Europe in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Arago provides it with complementary material components that it did not have until now. According to Jean-Louis de Bougrenet: "Arago's immediate future lies in integrating this European technology cluster, which will enable us to address new industrial customers by complementing our offer, and to integrate European programs more easily with sufficient critical mass. In particular, this partnership will enable us to develop our emerging business in intelligent sensors for the environment and biology.