Vai Photonics recognised for innovation
EQUS startup Vai Photonics, co-founded by Research Fellow Dr Lyle Roberts, has been recognised for disruptive innovation in defence technology at the inaugural Australian Tech and Innovation Showcase.
During the showcase, held in early February, 12 small-to-medium Australian companies pitched their defence technologies to a panel of judges from Bondi Partners and Northrop Grumman. Vai Photonics was one of three companies to be judged 'most outstanding'.
Vai Photonics builds sensors that enable vehicles to navigate with precision and confidence when GPS is unavailable or unreliable. Built on more than a decade of R&D in electro-optic sensor technology, Vai Photonics' breakthrough navigation Doppler LiDAR delivers a step change in navigation performance that reduces dependence on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).
In 2021, Lyle received an EQUS Translation Fellowship to support him in building a proof-of-concept device to generate data on the capability and performance of navigation Doppler LiDAR, and in providing validation to various potential markets for subsequent commercialisation.
Congratulations to Lyle and the Vai Photonics team!
Major funding support
The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present.