A new device demonstrated by the laboratory of Professor Shin-Tson Wu, Ph.D. offers a novel method for expanding the capabilities and accuracy of non-mechanical laser beam steerers.
The method, detailed in a new article in Light Science & Application titled “Miniature planar telescopes for efficient, wide-angle, high-precision beam steering,” addresses the inherent limitations of current techniques. Namely, that the technology used for everything from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) on autonomous vehicles to high-precision satellite-to-satellite communications, can only provide quasi-continuous steering within a limited range. Wu proposes widening the steering range using the power of a centuries-old scientific tool with a modern twist: telescopes with modern liquid crystal optics.
More details about the paper and the applications can be found here.