Developing custom piezoelectric phase modulators to enhance the performance of ultrahigh-resolution photonic integrated circuit optical gyroscopes

Modern vehicles demand compact, lightweight, and high performing gyroscopes to accurately track their orientation and motion in real time. Traditional optical gyroscopes based on lasers and fiber optics offer exceptional performance, but are too large, heavy, and expensive for compact vehicles like unmanned drones. Compact, lightweight, and inexpensive micromechanical gyroscopes suitable for cell phones perform too poorly for vehicles like aircraft. OSCPS Motion Sensing Inc. is developing a compact, lightweight, inexpensive, and high performing photonic integrated circuit (PIC) gyroscope. A phase modulator is essential for this PIC gyroscope, to enhance its sensitivity. The traditional thermal approach to phase modulators is slow and energy inefficient. To achieve rapid and energy efficient phase modulation, a custom piezoelectric phase modulator shall be created. Advanced modelling and simulating software will help optimize designs that shall be fabricated and tested. This phase modulator shall be an essential component in OSCPS Motion Sensing Inc.’s PIC gyroscopes.

Faculty Supervisor:

Odile Liboiron-Ladouceur

Student:

Partner:

OSCPS Motion Sensing Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

McGill University

Program: