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Breakthrough in Solid-State LiDAR Enhances Automated Vehicle Navigation

Research, In the News

ANN ARBOR, MI

A recent publication by Dr. Danny J. Lohan, featured in the ASME Open Journal of Engineering, explores an innovative advancement in solid-state LiDAR technology. LiDAR sensors play a critical role in quickly evolving automated vehicle navigation systems. As these systems evolve, management of the thermal load generated by integrated optics remains a challenge. Lohan’s research addresses this challenge by optimizing the sensor’s operational performance to enhance heat management.

The publication focuses on a programmable scanning and beam intensity control technique, which reduces the thermal burden on the integrated light source. This is enabled by the use of a frequency modulated continuous wave lidar, which consists of no mechanically moving parts. The combination of these technologies is a novel approach that helps mitigate overheating in compact sensor designs, making them more suitable for automated systems.

One of the most promising aspects of this study is the ~20% reduction in the device’s maximum temperature rise when using the programmable scanning and beam intensity control technique when compared to a conventional continuous power scan. This improvement could be a game changer for sensors used in land-based navigation for vehicles and robotics, ensuring longer-lasting, reliable performance in real-world conditions.

For detailed information, please refer to the published paper in ASME Open Journal of Engineering