In a significant advancement for autonomous driving and new energy vehicles, researchers have developed a multifunctional frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR system capable of simultaneous 3D imaging and multi-parameter sensing. The innovation, published in Light: Science & Applications, addresses the growing need for integrated perception systems that can monitor both external environments and internal battery conditions, a critical safety concern for electric vehicles.
Traditional FMCW LiDAR provides high-precision 3D imaging but lacks the ability to detect internal battery states or environmental parameters. Meanwhile, thermal runaway in batteries poses a significant safety risk, with early warning relying on coordinated monitoring of temperature, electrolyte density, and characteristic gases. Currently, these functions require separate imaging and sensing systems, leading to high complexity, cost, and integration challenges. The new multifunctional LiDAR overcomes this by detecting echo signals from both free space and optical fiber, enabling simultaneous 3D imaging and measurements of environmental temperature, gas concentrations, and liquid density.
In proof-of-concept experiments, the team, led by Professor Yongkang Dong from Harbin Institute of Technology, demonstrated imaging of a target at 30 meters with adjustable resolution from 0.3 to 1.2 centimeters. They also measured the electrolyte density and temperature of a battery with accuracies of 3×10⁻⁵ g/mL and 0.5 °C, respectively. Furthermore, they detected gases critical for monitoring thermal runaway—C2H2, CO2, and CH4—with detection limits of 0.07 ppm, 48 ppm, and 0.56 ppm, respectively.
The technology integrates FMCW LiDAR with optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), which uses the same linearly modulated continuous light source for fiber-optic sensing. This allows the system to demodulate reflection spectra from fiber Bragg gratings (FBG), Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometers, and multi-pass cells (MPC) in the spatial domain, enabling high-resolution sensing of multiple parameters.
The proposed multifunctional LiDAR holds significant potential for new energy vehicles and spacecraft. By integrating imaging and sensing into a single demodulator, it could provide a new integrated solution to enhance the safety of new energy vehicles, addressing both navigation and battery management needs. The researchers note that the technique can simultaneously realize key functions of automatic driving and battery management, offering a more efficient and cost-effective approach.
This development comes as the demand for advanced perception systems in autonomous vehicles continues to rise. The integration of multiple sensing modalities into a single device could streamline vehicle design and improve reliability, making electric vehicles safer and more practical. The work was supported by several Chinese research programs, including the National Key Research and Development Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
