Project description
Monolithic photonic integrated circuits building blocks for aerospace
The lack of compact sensing devices limits nano-satellite-based navigation and autonomous systems. The use of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is hindered by the challenge of integrating complete photonic sensors with optical interfaces on a single chip. The EU-funded INPHOMIR project establishes a European supply chain for monolithic PIC building blocks operating at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths using the Indium Phosphide platform. The project will validate PICs with ultralow-loss waveguides and mid-infrared active devices, including high-quality resonators and narrow-linewidth quantum cascade lasers. Additionally, it will develop an integrated optical gyroscope and a dual-band mid-infrared FMCW lidar within a multi-chip module for aerospace applications, such as low-Earth orbit nano-satellites and self-driving drones, advancing miniaturised technologies across industries.
Objective
Innovative ground-breaking technologies such as nano-satellite-based space navigation and autonomous navigation are currently hindered by the lack of compact, efficient sensing devices. The adoption of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) for these applications has been restrained by the difficulty of integrating complete photonic sensors without optical interface within the same chip.
The aim of INPHOMIR project is to provide a competitive and independent European supply chain of monolithic PIC building-blocks, operating at near and mid-infrared wavelengths, by proposing the Indium Phosphide platform as a valid solution for a technological scale-up. The scientific activities will involve the validation of PICs with new ultralow loss waveguides and new mid-infrared active devices; and the first demonstration of advanced building blocks such as: extremely-high quality factor resonators at telecom (exploring optical loss compensation and slow light effect in photonic crystals), Hertz-level narrow-linewidth quantum cascade lasers and ultra-low-power sensitive heterodyne detectors at mid-infrared wavelengths. These advanced components will be employed to realise for the first time an integrated optical gyroscope and a dual-band mid-infrared FMCW lidar. These two novel sensors will be put together onto a multi-chip module board to validate a novel multi-sensorial unit with unique ranging and inertial sensing capabilities, to be exploited for aerospace missions of low-earth-orbit nano-satellites and self-driving drones.
Thus, a consortium has been established, constituted by academic and industrial partners, to provide the necessary expertise and synergy in front-end (design, microfabrication) and back-end (packaging, test, sensor fusion) research activities as well as specifications definition and technological validation/exploitation of the developed use-cases. The proposed multi-sensor module will boost miniaturised and advanced technologies in leading EU industries.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry post-transition metals
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics autonomous robots drones
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.2 - Key Digital Technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL4-2023-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
63074 San Benedetto Del Tronto
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.