Glowing rotor blade with sharp pressure readings.

Blur No More: How AI is Revolutionizing Pressure Measurement on Rotating Surfaces

Reese Marlowe in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"An innovative iterative blind deconvolution algorithm is set to redefine the accuracy of PSP/TSP imaging, promising sharper insights into complex rotating dynamics."

Imagine trying to take a clear photo of a spinning fan. That's the challenge engineers face when using pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) to measure pressure on moving parts like rotor blades. The blur caused by the movement makes it hard to get accurate readings, but a new AI-powered algorithm is changing the game.

PSP technology involves coating a surface with a special paint that glows when exposed to light. The intensity of the glow changes with pressure, allowing engineers to visualize pressure distribution. However, capturing a clear image of this glowing paint on a rotating object has always been tricky.

Traditional methods struggle with the blurring effect, especially when using high-sensitivity PSP with long-lasting luminescence. This is where the new iterative blind deconvolution algorithm steps in, promising to deblur images with unprecedented accuracy.

Why is Deblurring PSP Images So Important?

Glowing rotor blade with sharp pressure readings.

Pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is a non-invasive optical technique used for measuring surface pressure distribution, particularly in challenging environments like rotorcraft blades. Traditional pressure sensors can be difficult to implement on rotating blades and may limit spatial resolution. PSP offers a way to obtain detailed pressure maps without physically altering the surface being measured.

The principle behind PSP relies on the quenching of excited-state luminescence of oxygen-sensitive luminophores. When the paint is exposed to light, it emits photons. The intensity of this light is affected by the concentration of oxygen, which in turn depends on the pressure. By capturing the luminescent emission with a high-resolution camera, a pressure distribution map can be created.

Here's why accurate PSP imaging is crucial:

Improved Design: Helps engineers design more efficient and reliable rotating machinery.
Better Understanding of Aerodynamics: Provides insights into complex flow phenomena, such as shock waves.
Enhanced Safety: Enables the identification of potential stress points and failure zones.

However, the motion of the blades during image acquisition introduces blurring, leading to erroneous pressure measurements. This blurring effect becomes more pronounced when using high-sensitivity PSP formulations with longer luminescence lifetimes. The longer the paint glows, the more the image blurs as the blade rotates.

The Future of PSP Imaging

This new deblurring method marks a significant step forward in PSP imaging. By enabling more accurate pressure measurements on rotating surfaces, it opens up new possibilities for designing and analyzing complex machinery. This advancement could lead to the development of longer-lifetime PSPs with improved sensitivity, further enhancing the capabilities of this valuable technology.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/s18093075, Alternate LINK

Title: Iterative Blind Deconvolution Algorithm For Deblurring A Single Psp/Tsp Image Of Rotating Surfaces

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: Sensors

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Anshuman Pandey, James Gregory

Published: 2018-09-13

Everything You Need To Know

What is pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) and how does it work?

Pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is a non-invasive optical technique used to measure surface pressure distribution. A surface is coated with a special paint containing oxygen-sensitive luminophores. When exposed to light, the paint emits photons; the intensity of this light is affected by oxygen concentration, which depends on the pressure. By capturing the luminescent emission with a high-resolution camera, a pressure distribution map can be created. Traditional pressure sensors are often difficult to implement on rotating blades, which is where PSP excels. PSP provides detailed pressure maps without physically altering the surface being measured, unlike traditional sensors.

Why is it challenging to get accurate pressure readings using PSP on rotating surfaces?

The motion of rotating surfaces during image acquisition introduces blurring, which leads to inaccurate pressure measurements. This blurring effect is intensified when using high-sensitivity PSP formulations that have longer luminescence lifetimes. High-sensitivity PSP with long-lasting luminescence exacerbate the blurring effect, as the longer the paint glows, the more the image blurs as the object rotates. This is why an iterative blind deconvolution algorithm is important.

What is the iterative blind deconvolution algorithm, and how does it improve PSP imaging?

The iterative blind deconvolution algorithm is a cutting-edge AI-powered process designed to deblur images obtained from pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) and temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) imaging on rotating surfaces. It addresses the blurring caused by motion, which traditional methods struggle with, especially when using high-sensitivity PSP with long-lasting luminescence. By deblurring images with greater accuracy, the algorithm enables clearer, more precise pressure measurements, leading to improved designs, a better understanding of aerodynamics, and enhanced safety in complex machinery.

What are the benefits of using accurate PSP imaging for designing rotating machinery?

Accurate pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) imaging offers several key benefits for designing rotating machinery: it improves design by enabling engineers to create more efficient and reliable machinery, enhancing aerodynamic understanding by providing insights into complex flow phenomena such as shock waves, and enhancing safety by enabling the identification of potential stress points and failure zones. High-resolution PSP imaging allows for detailed pressure maps without physically altering the surface being measured.

How might advancements in deblurring algorithms impact the future of PSP technology and its applications?

Advancements in deblurring algorithms, such as the iterative blind deconvolution algorithm, mark a significant step forward in PSP imaging. By enabling more accurate pressure measurements on rotating surfaces, these algorithms open up new possibilities for designing and analyzing complex machinery. This advancement could lead to the development of longer-lifetime PSPs with improved sensitivity, further enhancing the capabilities of this valuable technology. More accurate PSP imaging has implications for improving the design of more efficient and reliable rotating machinery.