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Completed TRL 5 (started at 4, targeting 5)
To address the urgent need for 3D flash-lidar technology for landing on solar system bodies and for spacecraft rendezvous and docking with satellites, an effort is proposed to fabricate, characterize, and test a versatile, high-sensitivity InGaAs APD 3D flash lidar and to advance the technology-readiness level (TRL) of lidar technologies suitable for NASA mission requirements. Leveraging an existing InGaAs APD focal-plane array (FPA) technology, improvements will be made to increase its reliability and performance. The high-gain, low-excess-noise APD FPAs will be characterized and integrated with miniature camera electronics, along with a medium-pulse-energy, high-repetition-rate, ultra-compact, pulsed diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser. The lidar sensor will be shown to meet NASA needs in terms of sensitivity and 5-cm range resolutions. Using these results, a large-format (e.g. 1024 x 1024, or larger) FPA will be designed for qualification for space missions.
The innovation satisfies NASA’s need for lidar receivers for precision landing on solar-system bodies and spacecraft rendezvous/docking with satellites/asteroids. Applications include: asteroid sample return/redirect, space-debris removal, manned moon/Mars landing, lunar mining, autonomous resupply and crew transportation to/from the ISS, robotic servicing/refueling of orbital assets, on-orbit assembly, ranging and altimetry, atmospheric profiling, vegetation canopy height, topography of planetary surfaces, and mapping of near-Earth asteroids.
Lidar is disrupting many industries like the automotive industry, where the goal is a robot providing ultimate convenience and greatly improved safety. Primary non-NASA commercial application is the automotive industry, specifically in autonomous vehicles. Other commercial applications include: transportation expansion, railways, civil engineering and surveying, and security and surveillance.
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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.
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