A fast electro-optic beam steering mechanism can improve the sampling density and coverage in all four of NASA's primary Lidar instrument types: backscatter, ranging, Doppler and differential absorption. The electro-optic deflector technology is also used in building electro-optic switches and scanners that find applications in quantum information processing and long range optical communications pursued by NASA.
A compact, fast electro-optic beam steering mechanism for Lidar proposed in this Phase I can help advance the state-of-the-art in Lidar beam scanning across the civilian and defense industry. It has applications in self-driving car industry that relies mostly on scanning Lidar for navigation and guidance as well as in geophysical mapping for scientific research and commercial applications.
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