Light-based tech could inspire Moon navigation and next-gen farming

Kyle

ULTRA-F###ING-MAGA!
PREMO Member
Super-thin chips made from lithium niobate are set to overtake silicon chips in light-based technologies, according to world-leading scientists in the field, with potential applications ranging from remote ripening-fruit detection on Earth to navigation on the Moon.


They say the artificial crystal offers the platform of choice for these technologies due to its superior performance and recent advances in manufacturing capabilities.

RMIT University's Distinguished Professor Arnan Mitchell and University of Adelaide's Dr Andy Boes led this team of global experts to review lithium niobate's capabilities and potential applications in the journal Science.

The international team, including scientists from Peking University in China and Harvard University in the United States, is working with industry to make navigation systems that are planned to help rovers drive on the Moon later this decade.

As it is impossible to use global positioning system (GPS) technology on the Moon, navigation systems in lunar rovers will need to use an alternative system, which is where the team's innovation comes in.




 

Sneakers

Just sneakin' around....
As it is impossible to use global positioning system (GPS) technology on the Moon, navigation systems in lunar rovers will need to use an alternative system, which is where the team's innovation comes in.
You'd think celestial navigation would work just fine.
 
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