A system and method for monitoring the vibrations of a machine that
includes a reflective patch affixed to the machine and a vibration
detection unit including an optics module. The optics module may be
positioned remotely from the machine such that the optics module
transmits an electromagnetic beam to the reflective patch and reflected
from the reflective patch to the optics module. The optics module
demodulates the electromagnetic beam to determine the vibration of the
machine.