SBIR Phase I: Affordable Multi-Wavelength Lidar and Thermal Imager for Autonomous Vehicles

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是为自动驾驶汽车市场提供低成本的激光雷达+热像仪，最终将实现4级和5级自动驾驶。拟议中的创新包括激光雷达和热探测器，用于定位物体，并对其进行分类，因为这是自动驾驶汽车最关键的方面。双极性激光雷达+热探测器解决了当前激光雷达行业的几个主要问题。首先，当前的激光雷达必须使用先进的算法来对物体进行分类，而激光雷达+热探测器可以很容易地区分有生命和无生命的物体，同时继续确定它们的位置。这是由于有生命的物体具有强烈的热特征。其次，双极性探测器能够探测和定位道路上的危险，如雪或水坑，这对于在北方地区使用自动驾驶汽车至关重要。此外，Flash Lidar+Thermal的帧率高达每秒200帧，这将大大减少涂抹效果，并允许以70+ MPH的速度行驶。最后，相机的高热分辨率将确保在包括雾和雨在内的恶劣天气条件下运行。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将提供双极性激光雷达+热探测器的概念验证。一个32 × 32像素的阵列将证明，在一个极性，热中波图像，在另一个极性，像素将在闪光激光雷达操作的飞行时间模式下工作。像素?S光谱响应范围从500nm到3.5？i’我现在处于激光雷达模式。表征探测器阵列将使用人眼安全的1550nm激光器。目标是展示200米的激光雷达操作，具有几厘米的高分辨率，热敏度为4mK的热成像。过渡到第二阶段将包括1000x500的阵列大小与10？M像素间距。该探测器将在户外进行评估，以演示对有生命物体、雪和水坑的检测，并将在雾条件下进行测试。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to provide a low cost Lidar+Thermal camera to the autonomous car market that will eventually enable level 4 and level 5 autonomy. The proposed innovation incorporates both a Lidar and a thermal detector to locate objects but also classify them, as this is the most crucial aspect of autonomous vehicles. The dual polarity Lidar+Thermal photodetector solves a few major issues in the current Lidar industry. First, current Lidars have to use advanced algorithms to classify the objects, whereas a Lidar+Thermal detector can easily distinguish between animate and inanimate objects, while continuing to establish their location. This is done due to the drastic heat signature of animate objects. Second, the dual polarity detector is able to detect and locate hazards on the road such as snow or puddles, which is vital if autonomous vehicles are used in northern regions. In addition, the frame rate of the Flash Lidar+Thermal is up to 200 Frames per second, which will drastically reduce smearing effects and allow for driving at speeds of 70+ MPH. Lastly, the high thermal resolution of the camera will ensure operation in bad weather conditions including fog and rain.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will provide a proof-of-concept of the dual polarity Lidar+Thermal detector. An array of 32x32 pixels will demonstrate that in one polarity, a thermal hot-mid-wave image and in the other polarity the pixels will operate in a time-of-flight mode for Flash Lidar operation. The pixel?s spectral response will range from 500nm up to 3.5?m in the Lidar mode. Characterization of the detector array will use the eye-safe 1550nm laser. The goal is to show a 200m Lidar operation with a high resolution of a few centimeters and thermal imaging with a thermal sensitivity of 4mK. The transition to Phase II will include an array size of 1000x500 with 10?m pixel pitch. The detector will be evaluated outdoors to demonstrate the detection of animate objects, snow and puddles and will be tested under fog conditions.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.