Periodic Reporting for period 1 - i-LiDAR (metasurface-Integrated Light Detection and Ranging)
Reporting period: 2019-12-01 to 2021-09-30
i-LiDAR project aimed at integrating metasurface into an optical apparatus named a laser imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus. LIDAR is an imaging technique that leverages on light at optical frequencies to sense the space and recover three-dimensional ranging information. Most of LIDAR devices on the market rely on mechanical or slow deflection systems that limit both frame rate and resolution. In i-LiDAR, we propose an alternative solution to achieve MHz real time frame rate imaging at extremely large Field of View of 150 degrees (2D imaging) and KHz frame rate with similar FoV on both vertical and horizontal scanning axis (3D imaging). Our approach utilizes ultrafast low deflection angle modulator coupled to large area metasurfaces with spatially varying deflection angles to improve the scanning range and detection speed. The versatility of metasurfaces for wavefront engineering is exploited for the acquisition of multi-zone images with different angular resolution in a single device. Achieving high frame rate full 3D forward and lateral imaging would participate to improving the perception of the autonomous vehicles and robotic systems.