Bingzhao Li, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington’s Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has been named one of the nation’s latest recipients for the Activate fellowship, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for science-based entrepreneurship. As the UW’s first点半chuther to receive this honor, Li’s work on a chip-scale LIDAR system, which replaces mechanical parts with acousto-optic beam steering, promises to revolutionize the field of optical sensing.
The Activation fellowship recognizes Li’s early exploration in entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in the realm of chip-based photonics. This prestigious award, which supports startups with significant revenues or inventries, highlights the growing importance of photonics and quantum-enabled sensing in tomorrow’s technologies. Li’s research builds on years of groundbreaking work at UW, which first pioneered optomechanical systems that couple light and sound on a chip, a bold move that sets the future course for a hybrid approach to information sensing.
Li’s innovative approach, involving surface opto-acoustic waves to redirect laser beams in real time, is described as “a deeply serendipitous” revelation. This method, achieved through Professor Mo Li’s guidance, allows for chord-scale precision without the need for bulky components. This breakthrough is expected to unlock applications in fields such as autonomous vehicles, drones, traffic control systems, and even medical imaging. The company named after Mo Li’s team, LEAP Photonics, reflects the innovation that combines light and sound at the nanoscale, with the potential to revolutionize sensing and communication.
From the small-scale LIDAR system to its commercialization, Li’s journey was driven by his entrepreneurial spirit. Initially inspired by the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Li, whose paper on acoustic wave-interfere with light was read in 1970, realized the potential for a more efficient and scalable optical system. They discordantly concluded that the problem and solutions were much more difficult than they seemed, yet their early conclusion allowed them to proceed with their research.
Li’s success underscores the value of curiosity, creativity, and entrepreneurship in scientific innovation. By bridging the gap between fundamental research and commercialization, he and others are paving the way for a new era of small-scale, adaptive optical systems. His work, which combines principles of optomechanics and photonics, is poised to transform industries ranging from avions to medicine, offering a tangible solution that could reduce costs and improve performance.
The Activate fellowship not only recognizes Li’s innovative journey but also supports his entrepreneurial ventures in other areas, including startups in computer programming (Diamondwave) and artificial intelligence (AIGenics). With the backing of supportive institutions, like DARPA and UW’s CoMotion hub, Li’s research has secured additional funding, creating fertile ground for future breakthroughs.
Li’s research on chip-scale LIDAR systems, which operate at a frequency as small as 10 GHz, promises to offer improvements in both range and environmental stability. Earlier experiments revealed that the system is potentially one thousand times smaller than conventional methods, though it remains an unresolved issue of moving parts. Despite the challenges, Li and his team are confident in their approach and believe that their work could be highly beneficial to industries ranging from robotics to defense.
