Blog

In the last several years, there has been a growing demand for technology to support smart city applications. The idea being that a city empowered by data allows for greater efficiency in almost any aspect. Benefits range from ensuring faster, more accurate response times for first responders to analyzing traffic patterns for better infrastructure design. Big data, artificial intelligence, and reliable sensing technology are all essential for this to be successful.

Thermal imaging technology has been in development since the early 1930’s and has seen widespread use since the beginning of World War II. Leonardo’s thermal imaging technology has continued to evolve since. In 2020, Leonardo offers a wide range of thermal imaging technologies for various applications across industries and the globe. Reducing cost and improving usability have been the major focuses among industry leaders in broadening capabilities. 

Demand for directed energy weapons is growing rapidly, projected at a CAGR of 23.26% through 2025, to meet the Department of Defense’s need for accuracy and precision of non-lethal weapons to combat emerging threats such as UAVs. As threats broaden, so do needed platforms: man-portable, ground or naval-based air defense against aerial targets and long-range, short-range, and medium-range strategic missions.

Beginning on Tuesday, April 28, Leonardo Electronics US will host a three-day virtual conference to discuss recent advancements in customizable laser diode sources and laser system product lines. Complete with technical webinars, question and answer sessions and 1:1 private briefings, registrants have the opportunity to discuss topics in rapidly changing industries such as directed energy, automotive lidar and security.

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.

In our recent direct diode heating blog series, we expressed some of the advantages of direct diode heating, which refers to heating specific regions of a material’s surface using diode lasers. As described previously, direct diode heating provides a number of benefits over traditional methods of indirect heating, such as heating lamps. These advantages include:

Direct diode heating in industrial applications refers to heating specific regions of a material surface with a semiconductor laser diode. This is as opposed to a fiber or solid-state laser or other non-laser heating methods. In a previous article we described reasons why direct diode heating is more effective than older methods such as IR lamps, microwaves, or forced air. One of the primary advantages of diodes is their flexibility—virtually any aspect of a diode laser heating system can be designed and optimized for performance and cost. Below are 8 factors to consider when choosing a laser diode for a direct diode heating system.

Companies are finally recognizing what medical laser manufacturers have known for years: there is no single color of “skin tone.” In cosmetics, skin care, and clothing, companies are broadening their spectrum to broaden their customer base. Matching a skin color is difficult because there is no simple way to define what a "skin color" even means. An object's "color" is a complicated mix of the spectrum of the incident light and how that object absorbs and reflects that light. At present, skin colors are described using the Fitzpatrick scale, a qualitative method based on the light-absorption features of the skin, which determine both the skin's apparent color and its propensity to sunburn. It's important to also remember that skin is a living thing that changes thickness, color, and texture, depending on age and environment.

For all laser applications, including commercial and defense, a primary objective is to maximize performance while minimizing cost. Within the telecommunications industry, a common metric when selecting a laser diode is the cost of the laser divided by the power of the emitted light—dollars per watt. Although dollars per watt is an effective metric for commercial applications, it is an oversimplification when designing the optical pumping system for a high-power laser, especially for military lasers, for several reasons. 

Continuous Wave (CW) laser diode arrays are principal components of modern medical, automotive, and defense equipment. As such, the reliability and longevity of the instruments rest upon the reliability and longevity of the laser diode array. This article describes five common causes of failure and how to avoid them.