Weather-Proof Chips: Taking The Modern Communication Technology To Next Level

Todays modern communication systems widely rely on how fast the information can transmit. At present, these communication systems rely on similar formula and follow similar process to transmit data. Devices, data-centres, towers and satellites are the common ingredients for transfer of information at present. This makes the communication system dependent on various factors that may slow down the entire process of transfer of data. Mainly this includes, geographical conditions and weather. To overcome this and make transfer of data simpler and faster, University of Texas at Austin have come up with the so-called “Weather proof chips”.

Let’s see how these “Weather proof chips” can change the future scenario of self-driven cars, military communications and other things that we have not even thought of yet.

**Caution** Don’t scroll down directly to the end of this article. There is some insane technology mentioned down there.

But before that, lets have quick knowledge of principle behind this technology.

Little Background about Weather Proof Chips:

It basically works on the principle of beam steering. In this, light is re-directed in the direction of a specific target, which is done by changing the direction of main lobe of the radiation pattern. This is widely used in the radio systems, radar systems, acoustics, optical systems and now in making weather proof chips. So; why specifically this principle is used?

Because, this allows signals to be transmitted more accurately than other methods. This in turn reduces interference and power is also saved while using it. But with this, beam steering also has a disadvantage that, it can only bounce light in narrow directions. Simply this can be compared with a person having a poor peripheral vision and how he cannot see things beyond certain extent. But researchers had solution to this also, and these weather proof chips featured much wider angles. They increased the range of steering light by 30 degrees.

Also, this was possible because of the material they used – Indium Phosphide (InP). So, the beam-steering technology was monolithically integrated with InP-based Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs).

(The study of QCL is a vast topic and is complicated. For readers interested in QCLs click here to know more)

Further About the Technology:

This above mentioned principle, allows the researchers to tune the chips in such a way that it can operate in a specified area of light spectrum. This light spectrum is – mid infrared region – which allows the signals to penetrate through clouds, rain, and other bad weather conditions. Also, it helps the signals to transmit to intended target without shedding and loosing significant amount of light. Thus, low light loss means signals can travel farther through the Earth’s atmosphere. That too, with better integrity and less power consumption.

Along with this, the device’s performance can also be improved by applying changes to the phase-shifters and waveguides that change the current inside the device. However, many enhancements have already been observed in the device. For instance, improvements in optical phased arrays (OPAs). OPAs are simply a technology used in optical sensors these days. They especially enable random-access pointing programmable multiple simultaneous beams, a dynamic focus/defocus capability, and moderate to excellent optical power handling capability at the same time making the device light-weight.

Also as mentioned earlier, this chips work in mid infrared region, there exists wide range of possibility for development in that. Meaning,  this work contributes to the experimental progress in the burgeoning field of mid-infrared integrated photonics. As more devices are demonstrated and optimized, and integration schemes mature, more efficient and compact chips for a wider range of applications in this rich spectral region can be realized.

Taking Self-Driven Vehicle Technology to a next level

As one application of weather proof chips, autonomous vehicles were tested. Currently, self-driven cars are equipped with those weird and bulky devices on their top. They are LIDAR system. LIDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. Basically, it detects the surroundings using light in the form of pulsed laser and measures varying distances to the Earth. Typically LIDAR devices have to spin continuously due to limited field of vision. And, anytime you rely on a moving system, there is a chance of it breaking.

These weather proof chips, don’t have to move or spin because they have a wider field of vision. Also, as movement is decreased; the problem of light trailing off in various directions and decreasing efficiency; were vanished. Importantly, when beam steering is to be used, there should be no blind spots. Current LIDAR systems created many blind spots, as they spin continuously, creation of blind spots is obvious. While using this weather proof chips, this risk is minimalized. And fewer blind spots in the technology increases safety in situations where momentary lapses can prove dangerous.

Changing the Future by Creating it – Witness with weather proof chips

Apart from using weather proof chips in automobile industry, researchers claimed other interesting applications too. They can potentially be integrated into everything from military purposes, to satellites, to skyscrapers. Research I being going on to infuse artificial intelligence into the device for environment sensing. Interestingly, the working of this weather proof chip is in mid-infrared region. In this spectrum of light, humans can’t see (without aids like night-vision googles), but devices can. In this range, such devices can pick up things like gas leakages and smoke stack emissions.

This is the era of ever-growing internet speeds, these chips can be a potential equipment to use. In big cities, where its not practical to dig deeply underground to lay fibre cables, these devices can increase internet speeds (and probably increase wireless data speed for 6G networking).

The most insane application, yet a dream of every future skyscraper, is putting these chips atop high-rise buildings. It can enable free-space optical communication, a efficient technology allowing wireless data to travel through the air using light. And it is interesting to know that, the next big project of researchers is field-testing the device and refining its packaging to enable its application in free-space optical communications.

With such advancements in technology, overcoming the mother nature’s barriers to humans now seem easy.

—OSD