September 8, 2023
Colloquium Topic: Solid-state Beamsteering with the Lightfield Directing Array
Bright Silicon Technologies is pioneering the state-of-the-art in solid-state optical beam-control. Our technology platform, the Lightfield Directing Array (LDA), offers a unique combination of speed, precision, stability, and digital flexibility for the exquisite control of light. It has the potential to revolutionize optical system markets such as laser communication terminals for terrestrial and satellite mesh networks, LIDAR for autonomous cars and drones, 3D printing of metals, as well as medical and scientific optical systems. The LDA technology is being spun out from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) via a collaboration between Bright and LLNL. Robert Panas, CTO and co-founder of Bright, will be presenting on the latest developments in the technology maturation work and potential applications.
Colloquium Speaker: Robert Panas
Robert Panas is the CTO of Bright Silicon Technologies (BST), an advanced technology company developing a new class of solid-state optical beam-control device called the Lightfield Directing Array (LDA) that is enabling emerging markets in optical communications, autonomous vehicle sensing, and other optical systems. Robert joined BST in March 2022 and leads precision micro/nano design and production efforts for developing the MEMS, electronics, controls, and fabrication capabilities required for LDA volume manufacturing. Prior to joining BST he worked as a research engineer at LLNL for 8 years in the Center for Micro-Nano Technologies, where he led the team responsible for R&D of the LDA architecture and key enabling technologies. Robert graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a S.B. in Physics (’07), a S.B. in Mechanical Engineering (’07), a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (’09) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (’13). His areas of expertise include MOEMS, microfabrication, manufacturing, additive micromanufacturing, precision microsystem design, nanopositioning, compliant mechanisms, electromagnetic design, optics, X-ray metrology, uncertainty analysis, mechatronics, controls and dynamics, and high-speed digital control. Dr. Panas is an NDSEG fellow and a member of the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) since 2009, now the acting President for the society having served on the: Organizing Committee (2013, 2014), Membership Committee (2013, 2014), Co-chair Precision Engineering Challenge (2014), Chair Precision Engineering Challenge (2015), Chair MNTLC (2016-2020), and the Board of Directors (2017-2020). He has 34 patents and applications as well as 87 papers published and submitted.