Real-time optical associative retrieval technique

A real-time optical associative retrieval technique is presented. The associative retrieval model enables a large amount of data to be stored and recalled by partial information optically in real time. The real-time capability is achieved by using an electronically addressed spatial light modulator based on the pocket-size liquid crystal display television. The potential application of the technique to the perceptive vision requirements in telerobotics for achieving NASA's goals of automation in space is described.