Researchers have developed a superconducting LiDAR system capable of capturing highly detailed images from long distances. LiDAR, which has been used since the 1960s, relies on laser pulses to measure distance accurately. A team led by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, with collaborators from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, MIT, and the University of Glasgow, enhanced the technology to generate precise 3D data from up to one kilometer away.
At the core of this breakthrough is an ultra-sensitive sensor known as the superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). Co-developed by NASA and MIT, the SNSPD can detect a single photon with an accuracy of 13 picoseconds, equivalent to 13 trillionths of a second. The system can also penetrate fog and smoke, making it valuable for applications such as security, monitoring, and remote sensing.
The technology enables depth measurement at millimeter-scale precision, even at significant distances, making it at least ten times more effective in image resolution than existing LiDAR systems. The researchers tested their system at distances of 45 meters, 325 meters, and one kilometer. A captured image of team member George Taylor at 325 meters demonstrated its incredible level of detail and accuracy. The team is now interested in extending the system’s capabilities even further, potentially identifying vehicle types at distances of up to 10 kilometers.
Beyond its range and resolution, the system offers several advantages. It maintains accuracy even in broad daylight, which typically disrupts LiDAR measurements due to scattered sunlight. It can also detect objects through cluttered environments and atmospheric obstacles while remaining entirely eye-safe, meaning the laser beams pose no risk to human vision.
Despite these advancements, the system does come with challenges. The superconducting component requires cooling to approximately minus 272 degrees Celsius (one Kelvin) using a specialized cryocooler. However, the research team has developed a compact cooling system to address this issue. The technology could drive significant advancements in fields such as facial recognition and human activity monitoring, offering transformative improvements to various industries.