Robotic optical scattering instrument (ROSI)

NIST's Robotic Optical Scattering Instrument -- called “ROSI” for short -- measures precisely how light reflects and scatters off of materials to produce these different colors and appearances. To use ROSI, scientists mount a sample to the end of the articulated robotic arm, which can move the sample in almost any direction with respect to a beam of light. A receiver can be positioned to collect the light reflecting off of the material from different angles.
Client
NIST
Date
February 2017
Categories
Illustration Diagram
Link
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2017/02/light-rebound-rosi-sees-it-every-angle

Project Notes

The image was originally created as part of a poster design hanging outside the ROSI lab, and later adapted for a PML news release. I also made a quick diagram listing the various types of measurements ROSI can take:

In an in-plane measurement, the light source, the sample, and the receiver are all in the same plane; in an out-of-plane measurement, the receiver is in a different plane.