I-Corps: Chip-scale laser ranging module for precision autonomous navigation and vehicular safety

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于车辆导航和安全的精密激光传感。最近，已经有大量的商业努力来构建模块化光探测和测距（LiDAR）单元，以实现自主和机器人-无人机平台的感知堆栈。然而，大多数最先进的激光雷达传感器都是基于机械旋转激光阵列或块状固体激光器，这些激光器体积大、重量重、功耗高且难以扩展。最近的研究成果展示了一种基于片上激光器和光电子学的芯片级激光雷达架构，实现了高性能的固态方法。在这个I-Corps项目中，目标是通过客户发现过程确定潜在客户和最高需求的市场，并开发一个详细而稳健的商业模式。I-Corps项目以开发用于车辆导航和安全的精密激光传感为基础，并得到实验室芯片初步演示的支持。利用该技术，可以通过激光飞行时间反射来绘制三维车辆周围环境。结合建模和设计参数分析，利用光子设计方面的进展，结合激光精度测量和阈值以及探测器信噪比方面的进展，对激光雷达芯片的性能进行了研究。与先前对大块旋转激光阵列或大块固体激光器的研究相比，光子实现通过铸造加工可扩展。这种芯片级的激光传感技术可能会使自动驾驶汽车的传感器达到准备水平。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 I-Corps project is the development of precision laser sensing for vehicular navigation and safety. Recently, there has been a substantial commercial effort to build modular light detection and ranging (LiDAR) units to achieve the perception stack of autonomous and robotic-drone platforms. However, most state-of-the-art LiDAR sensors are based on mechanically rotating laser arrays or bulk solid-state lasers that are large, heavy, consume high-power and are difficult to scale. Recent results have demonstrated a chip-scale LiDAR architecture based on on-chip lasers and optoelectronics, enabling a solid-state approach with high performance. In this I-Corps program, the goal is to identify potential customers and market of highest need through the customer discovery process, and to develop a detailed and robust business model.This I-Corps project is based on the development of precision laser sensing for vehicular navigation and safety and supported by preliminary chip demonstrations in the laboratory. Using this technology, the 3D vehicular surroundings may be mapped via laser time-of-flight reflection. Together with modeling and design parameter analysis, performance of the LiDAR chip has been examined using advances in the photonic design, coupled with advances in the laser precision measurements and thresholds, and detector signal-to-noise ratio. The photonic implementation is scalable through the foundry processing compared to prior studies on bulk rotating laser arrays or bulky solid-state lasers. This chip-scale laser sensing technology may enable the readiness level of autonomous vehicle sensors.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.