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Single Photon Counting LIDAR Sensor
Completed
TRL 3 (started at 3, targeting 3)
Description
To address NASA’s need for next-generation spaceborne lidar systems for aerosol, cloud, and ocean profiling, Voxtel is developing a low-noise high-efficiency high-dynamic-range photon-counting (HiP) sensor. The HiP sensor is based on silicon single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) technology and is capable of both atmospheric and ocean profiling, essentially enabling the first-ever ocean-profiling lidar from space and advanced retrievals of dense cloud properties. The HiP sensor has a linear photon-counting dynamic range of 10 GHz, a low dark-count rate of 25 kHz, and a high photon-detection efficiency of 35% at 532 nm.
Benefits
The HiP sensor will enable the first-ever ocean-profiling lidar from space and advanced retrievals of dense cloud properties, thus enabling missions such as the Decadal Survey for Earth Science and Applications from Space (ESAS) Aerosols-Clouds-Ecosystems (ACE), which requires a multi-wavelength high-spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) to provide vertically resolved profiling of clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere and optical properties in the ocean.
This technology is also broadly applicable to ground-, aircraft-, and space-based direct detection lidars operating in the 355 to 900-nm wavelength range, including differential-absorption lidars, for chemical and biologic threat detection, and direct-detection wind lidars. The sensor is also suited for the emerging lidar markets of automotive, drone and robotics.
Details
| Technology area | Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Lasers |
| Program | Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR) |
| Lead organization | Voxtel, Inc., Beaverton, OR |
| Start date | 2018-07-27 |
| End date | 2019-02-15 |
Project contacts
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How to get involved
This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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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