ABSTRACT
The high price of modern adaptive optics is explained by the lack of a uniform fabrication technology for their optical, mechanical and electrical constituents. Expensive adaptive optics are acceptable for applications where specialized custom-made systems are needed. The technology to date has been developed in the direction of system quality improvement, with little attention being given to system cost. Extension of adaptive optics into the field of mass-produced optoelectronics will only be possible with a reduction of the fabrication costs by a few orders of magnitude. The functionality and quality of devices and systems must be preserved or even improved during this transition.
