Abstract
A system to assess timber deformations has been developed using an array of optical distance sensors (ODS), each of which controls a strip of the timber determining how it deviates from flatness. The main characteristics of the ODS system are compactness, modularity and real-time elaboration software. The shape of the timber is reconstructed by sampling the distance between the timber and the ODS while the timber is running in the wood plant. The working principle of the ODS is based on the triangulation of a light spot. A low-power laser diode projects a light spot on the timber surface. The image of the spot moves on a position-sensitive detector (PSD) according to the distance between the optical system and the timber. Suitable software for computer-aided operation was developed at an industrial plant producing wood cutting systems. A prototype of the ODS system has been constructed and tested under real operating conditions.