Radiation-Hard, Low-Power FMCW Signal Processing ASIC

Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR is an emerging technology with significant advantages for rover-based applications on planetary bodies and moons, offering enhanced range resolution compared to traditional time-of-flight systems. While current FMCW LiDAR implementations achieve the necessary performance for such missions, their signal processing backends are power-hungry and lack the radiation hardness required for operation in extreme space environments. To address these limitations, SenseICs proposes the development of a radiation-hardened FMCW signal processing application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that significantly reduces power consumption—by more than an order of magnitude—while maintaining high-fidelity signal processing capabilities. This ASIC will be designed to withstand the harsh radiation conditions encountered in space, ensuring robust and reliable performance in planetary exploration missions. By integrating power-efficient architectures and radiation-hardening techniques, this innovation will enable next-generation FMCW LiDAR systems to operate with improved energy efficiency and survivability, advancing autonomous navigation and hazard detection for space exploration rovers. In Phase II, SenseICs will team with SiLC, a small business who specializes in FMCW LiDAR systems. SiLC will provide the FMCW optical system and front end and SenseICs will develop our Radiation-Hard, Low-Power FMCW Signal Processing ASIC for integration into the SiLC system for a demonstration at the end of Phase II.