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The use of lasers for directed energy military applications allow for target engagements at “light speed” that can damage or destroy a target almost instantly upon target acquisition. Increasing the power while reducing the size and weight, collectively known as SWaP, is essential for these lasers to be used on a wide variety of Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine or Coast Guard platforms.  The key to SWaP optimization is a highly efficient, low weight, and small-scale laser diode pump. Size and performance are important, as kilowatt and megawatt-class directed energy lasers require thousands of laser diode pumps, otherwise known as the “laser in the “laser.”

We are excited to announce that as of January 1, 2020, we have merged the Selex Galileo Inc. and Lasertel Inc. businesses to form Leonardo Electronics US Inc., a US-based independent entity providing next-gen technologies in the defense, security, medical, automotive, and industrial segments.  

While the use of lasers for directed energy (DE) increases, diversity in requirements and technology continues to evolve. Current directed energy applications, such as those used to eliminate airborne drones, range from comparatively lower-powered, man-portable lasers of 10 kW of optical output power to extremely high-powered lasers with 1,000 kW power levels. These 1 MW lasers are designed to be mounted on high-altitude platforms to destroy boost phase intercontinental ballistic missiles, among other missions.

Driver-assisted features continue to become more common in today’s vehicles. In recent years, technology like Active Cruise Control (ACC) or Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS) were more of a novelty — something consumers didn’t quite understand or feel the need to pay for. However, many newer cars are now equipped with these features as well as new ones like Lane Keep Assist (LKA) or even Park Assist (PA). In fact, US vehicle manufacturers are beginning to commit to technology that follows advances in Europe, where New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) standards require quicker adoption. For example, many US manufacturers are committing to every car having Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) by 2020. Cost and reliability of new sensing technology is helping to drive advancements in driver-assisted features, thus increasing the demand and affordability for customers. 

Alma is a global innovator of energy-based solutions for aesthetic lasers in surgical and medical markets. As a market pioneer and key inventor of several proprietary, patented technologies, Alma has transformed the medical laser industry. Using Lasertel, Alma continues to maintain a prominent position in the market, one step ahead of the competition.

Although dermatologists first used lasers for skin treatments in 1962, demand for these procedures has accelerated in the past decade. When compared to traditional chemical and surgical treatments, lasers present a number of advantages.

Lasertel will be exhibiting at LASER World of PHOTONICS, June 24-27 in Munich, Germany. Our team will be showcasing capabilities in three major industries: automotive lidar, medical and industrial in booth 104, Hall A3. Show attendees can stop by the booth to talk through their system design challenges, discover our latest lidar source capabilities and see the following products on display:

In a recent webinar Lasertel VP of Sales and Marketing, Robert Walker, discussed the many advancements in the autonomous vehicle market, including increasing requirements, new technology options, and the questions remaining for engineers.

We have previously written about many of the technical aspects of laser diode design, such as cooling systems, electrical power sources, and diode structure. It is critical to remember that automotive lidar systems operate principally outdoors, meaning an important consideration is the surrounding environment. For automotive lidar, there are four main factors to consider when selecting and designing the laser diode that lies at the heart of the lidar system.

Choosing a partner for your laser system—what matters most?

When it comes to designing your laser system, whether it be a medical system for aesthetic treatment or an advanced targeting system for directed energy, a full-view approach is needed. Beyond the diode, you will need to have a plan for incorporating electronics and optics, as well as packaging the unit in a way that it can withstand your application's environmental challenges. You've likely spent a significant amount of time thinking through the specifics of your design, choosing a partner requires the same attention to detail and the end decision should allow for seamless integration and clear alignment to your goals.