Adaptive optics (AO) systems were first deployed several decades ago to enhance the performance of large astronomical telescopes. AO systems used in astronomy improve image resolution by mitigating the distorting effects of atmospheric turbulence (like the "shimmering" seen above a road on a hot day). These disturbances have a dramatic effect on image quality. For example, the massive ten meter Keck Observatory, without the benefits of AO, could generally render images no better than a high-end backyard telescope. With its AO system, Keck's image resolution can surpass that of the Hubble Space Telescope. This is why, despite price-tags in the many hundreds of thousands of dollars, AO systems are used today on all the world's large terrestrial telescopes. The core technology is deployed and proven. But these systems are large, heavy, expensive, cumbersome and must be operated in highly controlled envirornments. At the heart of any AO system, are three critical components:

(1) Wavefront Sensor and Reconstructor - analyzes the incoming light and determines the amount and type of distortion to be corrected;
(2) Actuator Control - takes the calculations from the Wavefront Reconstructor and applies the correcting commands to the deformable mirror;
(3) Deformable Mirror (DM) - corrects distortions by applying an opposite distortion to the incoming light to render a sharp image. This component's cost and physical size has been the bottleneck to widespread deployment of AO to other applications.

The process continually repeats very rapidly to track and correct distortions. A schematic of an AO system is shown below:

is AO, Inc. has developed and filed patents on a revolutionary set of technologies that, for the first time, promises to deliver the extremely precise imaging of adaptive optics for uses where, today, conventional AO is impractical. Iris AO is building small-scale, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) DMS that offer radical improvements in cost, size, power consumption, durability and flexibility. Iris AO's systems make AO practical for a host of new applications, including retinal/biomedical imaging, satellite/airborne surveillance, and portable laser communications.

The Center for Adaptive Optics website is an excellent source for more information about the field of adaptive optics