OPALID

Present LiDAR systems are too big and too expensive by design to be used on a mass-scale as well as being susceptible to vibration due to rotating transmitters and receivers during operations in fast-moving systems, such as robots and vehicles in traffic. In order for them to comply with demands in strongly differing markets new base technologies are required that enable small and reliable LiDAR systems. The design of a system without moving parts is achievable by integrating silicon photonics, namely replacing the large rotating transmitter with an OPA as optical silicon circuit. The technological challenge lies in the extreme density of optical components at more than 100 optical phase shifters per chip including their complex wiring and processing.

The IMS is responsible for the development and manufacture of the LiDAR system´s transmitter based on a matrix of optical phase shifters (OPA – Optical Phased Array) integrated on a silicon photonic chip.