A team of scientists led by Professor Yongkang Dong from the Harbin Institute of Technology has developed a multifunctional frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) LiDAR that can simultaneously perform high-precision 3D imaging and multi-parameter sensing. This innovation, published in Light: Science & Applications, addresses the growing need for integrated perception systems in new energy vehicles and autonomous driving technologies.
Traditional FMCW LiDAR systems excel at high-resolution 3D imaging but are limited in functionality, unable to monitor internal battery states or environmental parameters. This gap poses significant safety risks, particularly for electric vehicles where battery thermal runaway is a major concern. Early warning for such events typically requires coordinated monitoring of temperature, electrolyte density, and characteristic gases. Currently, these functions are performed by separate systems, leading to increased complexity, cost, and integration challenges. The new multifunctional LiDAR aims to overcome these obstacles by unifying imaging and sensing capabilities in a single device.
The proposed system works by detecting echo signals from both free space and optical fiber. This dual approach enables 3D imaging of targets while simultaneously measuring physical parameters such as environmental temperature, gas concentrations, and liquid density. In proof-of-concept experiments, the team successfully imaged a plastic plate with a “HIT” symbol placed 30 meters away, achieving adjustable resolution from 0.3 cm to 1.2 cm. Additionally, they measured the electrolyte density and temperature of a battery with accuracies of 3×10⁻⁵ g/mL and 0.5 °C, respectively. The system also detected concentrations of gases critical for monitoring thermal runaway: C2H2, CO2, and CH4, with detection limits of 0.07 ppm, 48 ppm, and 0.56 ppm, respectively.
By extending FMCW LiDAR technology into optical fibers, the system also realizes optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), a technique known for high spatial resolution and large dynamic range. This allows the same device to perform both free-space imaging and fiber-based sensing, leveraging the same linearly modulated continuous light source for both functions. The scientists explain that in the LiDAR module, target distance is calculated from the optical path difference between collimator reflection and target reflection peaks. Reflection spectra from fiber Bragg gratings, Fabry-Perot interferometers, and multi-pass cells are demodulated from spatial domain peaks using inverse Fourier transforms.
The multifunctional LiDAR holds significant application potential in new energy vehicles and spacecraft. It can simultaneously handle key functions of autonomous driving and battery management with just one demodulator, potentially providing a new integrated solution to enhance vehicle safety. The technology could also be adapted for spacecraft applications, where compact and versatile sensing systems are highly valued.
The research was supported by several Chinese funding bodies, including the National Key Research and Development Program and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The full study is available in Light: Science & Applications with DOI: 10.37188/lam.2026.102.
