PFI:AIR - TT: Highly Sensitive Eye-safe Flash LiDARs based on Nanoinjection Detectors

这个PFI: AIR技术翻译项目专注于改善结构的三维（3D）成像。3D成像在环境测绘、生态表征、机器人和自动化、医学成像、区域测绘和国防等领域都有应用。该项目将使用西北大学开发的电子注入探测器来开发一种无需移动部件的3D成像技术，该技术使用激光照明探测和测距（激光雷达）大型探测器阵列（“闪光激光雷达”）。目前大多数激光雷达系统使用少量的雪崩探测器和机械扫描方法来产生图像。电子注入探测器，正如这里提出的，提供了一个有希望的雪崩探测器的替代方案，因为它们需要更低的电压和更少的功率，并且可以制成大型二维阵列。如果成功，这项工作可能会导致“凝视”激光雷达系统，它不需要机械扫描，一次拍摄就能产生高分辨率的3D图像。该系统将比现有的机械扫描3D成像系统更小、更轻、成本更低。这些改进可以使3D成像仪变得像今天的数码相机一样无处不在。该项目解决了从研究发现到商业应用的以下技术差距：提高电子注入探测器的速度以提高测距分辨率。虽然目前的设备速度很快，但它们并没有显示出千兆赫（GHz）的速度。实现这种速度的限制之一是寄生电容，这将作为研究工作的一部分加以解决。此外，将使用高带宽跨阻抗放大器，这是对现有电压放大器的改进。除了PI、co-PI和分包公司的人员外，还将有一名研究生接受重要的技术培训。学生还将直接从项目计划的商业化工作和麦考密克工程学院提供的创业课程中学习。该项目与密歇根航空航天公司合作，该公司在激光雷达系统方面拥有丰富的专业知识，帮助确定从研究发现到商业现实的技术转化过程中不同设计参数之间的最佳权衡。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on improving the 3-dimensional (3D) imaging of structures. 3D imaging has applications in environmental mapping, ecological characterization, robots and automation, medical imaging, areal mapping, and defense. This project will use electron injection detectors developed at Northwestern to develop a 3D imaging technique that can be accomplished without moving parts, using laser illuminated detection and ranging (LIDAR) large detector arrays ("flash LIDAR"). Most current LIDAR systems use a small number of avalanche detectors and mechanical scanning methods to produce an image. Electron injection detectors, as proposed here, offer a promising alternative to avalanche detectors because they require less voltage and use less power, and can be made into large two-dimensional arrays. If successful, the proposed work could lead to "staring" LIDAR systems, which do not need mechanical scanning and produce a high-resolution 3D image in one shot. The system would be smaller, lighter and lower cost than existing 3D imaging systems with mechanical scanning. These improvements could enable 3D imagers to become as ubiquitous as digital cameras are today. This project addresses the following technology gap as it translates from research discovery toward commercial application: increasing the speed of electron injection detectors to enhance the ranging resolution. While the current devices are fast, they do not demonstrate gigahertz (GHz) speed. One of the limitations in achieving this speed is the parasitic capacitances, which will be addressed as part of the research effort. Also, high-bandwidth trans-impedance amplifiers will be used, an improvement over current existing voltage amplifiers. In addition to the PI, co-PI, and the personnel from sub-contracting company, there will be one graduate student who will receive significant technical training. The student will also learn directly from the commercialization work planned for the project, and from entrepreneurship courses offered by the McCormick School of Engineering. The project engages Michigan Aerospace, which has significant expertise in LIDAR system, to help identify the best tradeoff between different design parameter in this technology translation effort from research discovery toward commercial reality.