Quantum sensing devices such as atomic clocks enable unmatched precision in various area of metrology. Initially bulky laboratory devices, it is of great interest to miniaturize them to lower their energy consumption and deploy them in many embedded and mobile systems. To allow a dramatic cost reduction and miniaturization, CSEM developed and tested with success miniature atomic clocks based on wafer-level processes. On top of the control electronics and the atomic vapor cells, the optical design, the optical components and their assembly have been fully redesigned to be wafer-level fabricated. To achieve low aspect ratio and integrated optical management, thin glass planar waveguides have been implemented allowing to transport and beam shape the interrogating beam going from and to the atomic vapor gas cell. This proved a much simpler wafer scale assembly process, a monolithic construction less prone to single component alignment issues and provide much more compact atomic clocks
Future planetary exploration missions require the support of 3D vision in the GN&C during key spacecraft’s proximity phases, namely: i) spacecraft precision and soft Landing on the planet’s surface; ii) Rendezvous and Docking (RVD) between a Sample Canister (SC) and an orbiter spacecraft; iii) Rover Navigation (RN) on planetary surface. The imaging LiDARs are among the best candidate for such tasks [1-3]. The combination of measurement requirements and environmental conditions seems to find its optimum in the flash 3D LiDAR architecture. Here we present key steps is the evaluation of novelty light detectors and MOEMS (Micro-Opto- Electro-Mechanical Systems) technologies with respect to LiDAR system performance and miniaturization. The objectives of the project MILS (Miniaturized Imaging LiDAR System, Phase 1) concentrated on the evaluation of novel detection and scanning technologies for the miniaturization of 3D LiDARs intended for planetary mission. Preliminary designs for an elegant breadboard (EBB) for the three tasks stated above (Landing, RVD and RN) were proposed, based on results obtained with a numerical model developed in the project and providing the performances evaluation of imaging LiDARs.
Planetary exploration constitutes one of the main components in the European Space activities. Missions to Mars, Moon and asteroids are foreseen where it is assumed that the human missions shall be preceded by robotic exploitation flights. The 3D vision is recognised as a key enabling technology in the relative proximity navigation of the space crafts, where imaging LiDAR is one of the best candidates for such 3D vision sensor.
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