i Lidar 2

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With iLIDAR 2, Nexvision confirms its role as a major player in optronic innovation in Europe.
This new project, funded by the European ERDF program, aims to develop a high-resolution long-range imaging lidar capable of operating in real-world conditions while offering unprecedented performance for an embedded system.

This program is a continuation of the first phase, iLIDAR 1, which demonstrated the scientific feasibility of a hybrid imaging lidar approach. Building on these results, iLIDAR 2 is taking a decisive step forward: transforming the proof of concept into a functional prototype (TRL 6/7), ready for field testing.

The project’s ambition is clear: to bring about a technological breakthrough in long-distance perception for defense, security, smart mobility, and advanced industrial applications.

CHALLENGES

The iLIDAR 2 project tackles a major challenge: designing a system capable of seeing far, with high precision and in all conditions.
Range, resolution, security, robustness… every parameter is pushed to its maximum to achieve a next-generation solution.

Nexvision engineers are working to:

Extend the effective range beyond one kilometer to ensure reliable long-distance detection;
Achieving an angular resolution of less than 0.1°, guaranteeing unprecedented analysis precision;
Using a wavelength of 1550 nm (SWIR), which is both safe for the eye and effective in fog, rain, or dust;
Create a hybrid Flash + Scanning lidar architecture, combining acquisition speed and scanning accuracy.

But the project goes beyond mere technical prowess. iLIDAR 2 is part of a broader strategic approach: to strengthen European technological sovereignty and consolidate Nexvision’s position in the optronics sector.

There are many potential applications:

Overwater detection to identify drones, boats, or floating debris;
Flight assistance and navigation in complex environments;
Multi-domain situational awareness (air, land, sea) for armed and security forces;
Mapping and 3D reconstruction for civil and military drones.

MAIN TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

At the heart of the project is a concentration of cutting-edge technologies:

Range greater than 1 km for long-distance surveillance;
iFoV < 0.1° for unparalleled imaging accuracy;
Hybrid Flash & Scanning lidar architecture to combine global capture and detailed analysis;
SWIR band at 1550 nm, guaranteeing performance and security;
Innovative laser frequency conversion to maximize power and signal quality.

These choices make iLIDAR 2 a unique system in Europe, capable of competing with the most advanced international solutions.

Above all, iLIDAR 2 is part of a larger ecosystem: eVSA (Embedded Vision-based Situational Awareness), the Nexvision platform dedicated to embedded vision and situational awareness. A comprehensive approach that combines optronics, image processing, and artificial intelligence.

Thanks to the support of the ERDF, Nexvision is strengthening its ability to transform research into concrete innovation, serving operational performance and European sovereignty.