WISDOM, co-led by MIT's Prof Juejun Hu and NTU Singapore's Prof Tan Chuan-Seng, seeks to overcome the limitations of current 3D sensing systems, which are often bulky, expensive, and challenging to mass-produce. Current systems, while critical for autonomous vehicles, robotics, augmented reality, and medical diagnostics, still fall short of human-like perception, limiting their broader application.
The IRG aims to transform the manufacturing of optoelectronic metasurfaces - ultra-thin structures that manipulate light in new ways - by integrating them into scalable, wafer-scale platforms. This approach allows for compact, high-performance systems that can be produced using standard semiconductor processes, paving the way for mass-market adoption.
"What makes me really excited about WISDOM is that we're putting together pieces that haven't been combined before - to benefit a ton of industries and use cases. For example, think how a super light and powerful LiDAR system could make trips to planets beyond Mars a reality. It's like having a whole new set of eyes for exploration, and about making the seemingly impossible, possible," said Prof Juejun Hu, Co-Lead Principal Investigator, WISDOM.
The WISDOM team brings together top researchers from MIT, NTU Singapore, the National University of Singapore (NUS), Stanford University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). This collaborative effort, supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore's CREATE programme, aims to position Singapore as a global leader in advanced sensing technologies.
The group's inaugural project will focus on developing a high-performance, metasurface-enabled LiDAR prototype. This system aims to improve detection accuracy, extend range, reduce motion artifacts, and enhance field-of-view, potentially revolutionizing applications in autonomous vehicles, robotics, drones, and next-generation optical communication.
"WISDOM represents a paradigm shift in how meta-optical systems are integrated - from discrete assembly to wafer-scale packaging. Even at the research stage, we have a clear objective to bring our innovations to market and societal impact - enabling transformative sensing technologies for mass-market applications," said Prof Juejun Hu.
Research Report:Wafer-scale Integrated Sensing Devices based on Optoelectronic Metasurfaces (WISDOM)
Related Links
Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)
Space Technology News - Applications and Research
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