Project focus

• Versatile technology for automotive MEMS mirror
• Sensing and Actuation for high performance MEMS scan systems
• Advanced control development for automotive qualified MEMS scan systems
• Feasibility evaluation of the MEMS scan system for automotive safety applications.

Description

Advancements of sensors, communication and artificial intelligence are about to bring a revolutionary changes in mobility and transportation by autonomous driving. Scanning mirrors based on Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technologies are one of the promising solutions for various automotive applications, e.g. photonic sensing such as lidars and human machine interfaces such as augmented reality head -up display (AR HUD) and smart headlights. Small form factor, high scanning performance and scalable low unit cost by mass production are raised as main advantages of the MEMS scanning solution for automotive applications. As a drawback, MEMS mirrors are prone to harsh operating conditions such as vibrations, shocks, and temperature variations, requiring highly robust system design with controls to guarantee their full device performance at any situation. However, it is challenging for analysis and control design since MEMS mirrors are highly nonlinear devices.

Fig. 1 Concepts of (top left) 1D MEMS scanning lidar [Yoo et al, E & I, 135, 6, 2018], (top right) lidars and other sensors for surroundings [Hecht, Optics Photonics News, 29, 1, 2018], (bottom left) AR head up display [Ballard et al, SID DTP, 2016], and (bottom right) smart headlights [Audi OLED | Audi Future LAB, 2015, Link to YouTube Video, opens an external URL in a new window

The AUTOScan project aims for automotive grade MEMS scanning systems for robust sensing and imaging in harsh automotive environmental conditions, enabling reliable MEMS lidars and AR HUDs. The research topics are categorized four aspects. First, precision metrology and automotive test setups for MEMS mirrors are developed to evaluate their performance under severe automotive conditions. Second, modeling and analysis of MEMS mirrors are investigated to understand its nonlinear dynamics. Third, sensing, actuation, and control concepts of MEMS scanning mirrors are studied for robust scanning motion in harsh environmental conditions. Last, test setups of lidars and AR display for automotive use are built to verify the performance in the final application level.

Applications

• Lidar for autonomous driving
• Augmented reality head up display
• Precision measurement systems

Related Publications and Patents

Journal articles

• R. Schroedter, H. W. Yoo, D. Brunner, and G. Schitter, Charge-Based Capacitive Self-Sensing With Continuous State Observation for Resonant Electrostatic MEMS Mirrors, Journal Of Microelectromechanical Systems, vol. 30, iss. 6, p. 897–906, 2021. [Download (PDF)]
• D. Brunner, H. W. Yoo, R. Schroedter, and G. Schitter, Adaptive Lissajous scanning pattern design by phase modulation, Optics Express, vol. 29, iss. 18, p. 27989–28004, 2021. [Download (PDF)]
• H. W. Yoo, D. Brunner, M. Macho, L. Niedermueller, A. J. Devesa, L. Kormann, and G. Schitter, Evaluation of robustness against external vibrations for long-range MEMS lidar with one-dimensional resonant micromirror, Journal of Optical Microsystems, vol. 2, iss. 1, 2022. [Download (PDF)]

News

• Control of MEMS lidar mirrors enables steady pictures in shaky environments
   

Project partners

• Infineon Technologies

Funding

This project (activity) has received funding from the Mobility of the Future program. Mobility of the Future is a research, technology and innovation funding program of the Republic of Austria, Ministry of Climate Action. The Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) has been authorized for the program management

• FFG Mobilität der Zukunft