Long Range LiDAR (LR-LiDAR) (LR-LiDAR)

To address this technology gap and NASA’s non-mechanical LiDAR beam steering need, Torrey Pines Logic, Inc (TPL) proposes developing a novel High-power Magneto-Optical beam Deflector HMOD. The principle of operation is to modulate the polarization rotation using a magneto-optic faraday polarization rotator with a wound electro-magnetic coil to modulate the magnetic field. The modulated linear polarization direction will be deflected in a binary fashion as the beam enters a birefringent prism depending on whether the Faraday Rotator is switched into the extraordinary or ordinary polarization state of the prism (Figure 1). TPL proposes to demonstrate the HMOD system in a multi spot scanning configuration collimated by a 5 cm diameter telescope as part of the Phase I effort. Long range LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a vital tool in analyzing the physical properties of the world critical for everyday applications. Among these critical applications LiDAR is used for precise distance and velocity measurements during rendezvous and docking of spacecraft, weather analysis for a wide gamut of practical applications, atmospheric analysis of trace gases used in climate prediction and pollution monitoring; land, oceanic and sub-oceanic topographical measurements that are vital for navigation; ADAS (automated driving assist systems); and many other applications. Our proposed technology is state-of-the-art technology due to its unique optical train that provides a unique and out-of-the-box approach to LiDAR operations.

Long range LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a vital tool in analyzing the physical properties of the world critical for everyday applications. Among these critical applications LiDAR is used for precise distance and velocity measurements during rendezvous and docking of spacecraft, weather analysis for a wide gamut of practical applications, atmospheric analysis of trace gases used in climate prediction and pollution monitoring; land, oceanic and sub-oceanic topographical measurements that are vital for navigation; ADAS (automated driving assist systems); and many other applications. We see both terrestrial and extraterrestrial use in and outside of the atmosphere as being valuable and useful. As the atmosphere introduces scattering and other interferences, LiDAR outside of Earth's thick atmosphere can be used for extremely long distances. There are a variety of DoD use cases as well as security, home defense, and international defense use cases as well.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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