'Meta-Lidar' Developer Lumotive Secures Funding Round: Week in Brief: 08/26/22

Optica launched a campaign to highlight the achievements of the global photonics community. The “Optica Community” campaign presents a series of life stories celebrating the society’s global diversity and the shared values of its members. The profiles demonstrate the impact of the photonics community on the individuals whose life stories are being represented, as well as the impact of those individuals on the community at large. Optica’s nearly half-million members hail from 183 countries. The series of stories can be read at www.optica.org/en-us/about/optica_community.

SEATTLE — Lumotive, developer of metasurface-based beam steering chips, secured a round of strategic funding led by Samsung Ventures. The investment included contributions from new strategic investors, including Himax technologies, as well as Bill Gates, Quan Funds, and MetaVC Partners. Lumotive plans to use the funding to accelerate the development and customer delivery of optical semiconductor devices that enable the next generation of lidar sensors. More than two dozen companies are engaged with Lumotive to use the company’s light control metasurface (LCM) chips to develop next-generation systems for autonomy, automation, and augmented reality markets.
Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface beam steering chips. Courtesy of Lumotive.

Lumotive’s Light Control Metasurface beam steering chips. Courtesy of Lumotive.

Lumotive’s LCM beam steering chips. Courtesy of Lumotive.

CENTENNIAL, Ohio — NUBURU was awarded an AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract by the U.S. Air Force to develop a blue laser-based 3D printing solution with area printing technology. The goal of the one-year project is to demonstrate improved speed and accuracy of a metal 3D printer based on NUBURU’s blue laser technology. This new class of 3D printers will aim to offer micron-level resolution, increased part size and metal density, up to 100x build speed, with minimal to zero post-processing and part shrinkage. The solution could allow the military to build replacement parts for older aircraft that have been declared obsolete by the original suppliers and diminish the time required to build and replace critical components, said NUBURU CEO and co-founder Mark Zediker.

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VARENNES, Quebec — The Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS), based at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) outside Montreal, received nearly 3.4 million CAD ($2.63 million) from the government of Canada through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) Major Science Initiatives Fund. The fund invested more than $628 million to support ongoing operation and maintenance needs of 19 research facilities at 14 institutions across Canada.

A peek inside the vacuum chamber of the 750 terawatt laser at the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) at the INRS. Courtesy of Josée LeCompte, INRS.

A peek inside the vacuum chamber of the 750-TW laser at the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) at the INRS. Courtesy of Josée LeCompte/INRS.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded researchers at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and the University of Delaware (UD) an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Track 2 grant for $4 million to advance quantum photonic technology research and to establish a quantum science and engineering program at UNM. The new graduate program will be modeled after UD’s quantum science and engineering program.

WARRINGTON, England — Quantum Science Ltd. (QS), a developer of nanomaterials, secured funding in the form of a grant from Innovate UK’s Analysis for Innovators (A4I) competition. The grant will provide a boost to QS’ work developing and commercializing its INFIQ quantum dot technology. Funds will be used to develop techniques for the measurement of nanoscale surfaces in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory.

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Published: August 2022

Glossary

synchrotron: A synchrotron is a type of particle accelerator that uses magnetic fields to steer charged particles, typically electrons or positrons, in a closed, circular or elliptical path. The name synchrotron refers to the synchronization of the accelerating electric field with the increasing particle velocity as they move in a circular path. Synchrotrons are powerful tools used in various scientific and industrial applications, particularly in the generation of intense beams of synchrotron radiation. ...
quantum: The term quantum refers to the fundamental unit or discrete amount of a physical quantity involved in interactions at the atomic and subatomic scales. It originates from quantum theory, a branch of physics that emerged in the early 20th century to explain phenomena observed on very small scales, where classical physics fails to provide accurate explanations. In the context of quantum theory, several key concepts are associated with the term quantum: Quantum mechanics: This is the branch of...
metrology: Metrology is the science and practice of measurement. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of measurement, including the development of measurement standards, techniques, and instruments, as well as the application of measurement principles in various fields. The primary objectives of metrology are to ensure accuracy, reliability, and consistency in measurements and to establish traceability to recognized standards. Metrology plays a crucial role in science, industry,...
lidar: Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a remote sensing technology that uses laser light to measure distances and generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape and characteristics of objects and surfaces. Lidar systems typically consist of a laser scanner, a GPS receiver, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU), all integrated into a single system. Here is how lidar works: Laser emission: A laser emits laser pulses, often in the form of rapid and repetitive laser...
chip: 1. A localized fracture at the end of a cleaved optical fiber or on a glass surface. 2. An integrated circuit.
integrated photonics: Integrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers, modulators, detectors, and waveguides, on a single chip or substrate. The goal of integrated photonics is to miniaturize and consolidate optical elements in a manner similar to the integration of electronic components on a microchip in traditional integrated circuits. Key aspects of integrated photonics include: Miniaturization: Integrated photonics aims to...
3d printing: 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer from a digital model. This technology allows the creation of complex and customized structures that would be challenging or impossible with traditional manufacturing methods. The process typically involves the following key steps: Digital design: A three-dimensional digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. This...
additive manufacturing: Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer. This is in contrast to traditional manufacturing methods, which often involve subtracting or forming materials to achieve the desired shape. In additive manufacturing, a digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and this digital model is then sliced into thin cross-sectional layers. The...

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