High Precision Compact Modular Flash LIDAR for Lunar and New Frontiers Mission

ASC is the leading provider of Global Shutter 3D Flash LIDAR (GSFL) cameras for space applications including autonomous Entry, Descent, & Landing (EDL), situational awareness, topographic imaging, rendezvous & docking, and satellite servicing. For terrestrial applications, ASC has focused on compact, miniaturized versions of the GSFL to support the autonomous automobile industry, unmanned vehicles, and military markets. For this phase I, NASA has identified a need to improve measurement accuracy, reduce external processing of sensor data for the spacecraft, reduce SWaP, and operate in dust and illumination effects during EDL. ASC’s roadmap of improvements to the GSFL resolves these current short comings of the current state of the art sensors for EDL. To meet NASA’s identified needs, ASC plans to implement additional processing capacity in the GSFL and embed Hazard avoidance, NASA’s Super Resolution, and other algorithms to increase measurement accuracy, precision, and resolution; while offloading the external processing of the spacecraft to the GSFL. ASC has plans to reconfigure the TRL9 GoldenEye GSFL into a Compact Modular flash LIDAR (CMFL) that is low power, and ½ the size and weight of the GoldenEye. ASC will also implement new functions in the space GSFL that have been proven in the terrestrial applications for imaging and ranging through dust. The GSFL also operates in total darkness and direct sunlight. In phase I, ASC will define the system requirements, develop the system architecture including HW and SW, and develop the design concept for the phase II prototype. Deliverables will be the kick off meeting, interim status reports, and the final report.

Other applications for the CMFL besides EDL operations include rover mobility and navigation, cube satellites, Satellite servicing, Cube satellite swarms, Mapping and landing location, collision avoidance and hazard detection, ISS Rendezvous and Docking, Space Situational Awareness, Rock Abundance and Distribution Maps, Infrastructure-free Localization, Perception/Vision for Autonomous Systems, free flying robots, and ISS external assessment.

Compact GSFL is ideal for UAV’s and drones with applications including autonomous flight, target designation, tracking, autonomous landing, and flight formation for swarm operations. Also applies for UGV’s and robotics for autonomous navigation, leader follower operations, damage assessment, autonomous disarming of threats, increased situational awareness, target designation, and tracking.

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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