Imaging and remote sensing protocols in the classical domain are fundamentally limited by the diffraction limit and detection noise. To move beyond these boundaries photonic quantum technologies provide new paradigms for achieving unprecedented sensing performance. The SURQUID project will achieve both super-resolution below the Rayleigh diffraction limit and super-sensitivity below the shot noise limit for light detection and ranging (lidar) applications. Using quantum homodyne detection (QHD) combined with non-classical illumination using entangled coherent states (ECS) we will realize a quantum lidar system for multi-scale quantum imaging with unparalleled accuracy and precision. We will implement a long-term stable QHD system by integrating multiple superconducting single photon detectors (SNSPDs) in nanophotonic circuits. Operation in the telecommunication spectral window, where atmospheric transparency is high, will enable remote quantum imaging on a logarithmic length scale from 100 mm to 100 km distances. Waveguide-integrated SNSPDs excel in performance in the telecom wavelength range and provide a scalable route towards multi-wavelength and multi-detector architectures. We will implement a two-color quantum lidar system where time-of-flight (TOF) detection with ultralow timing jitter below 10 ps on one wavelength will give information about target distance with 2 mm accuracy, while QHD combined with ECS illumination on a second wavelength will provide quantum-enhanced local spatial resolution. Through beam scanning and synchronized QHD we will realize super-resolved surface profiling. Our consortium is uniquely placed to tackle these challenges by joining leading experts in ultrafast single photon detection, nanophotonic circuit design and quantum light generation. The SURQUID project will realize a ready-to-use quantum lidar system for applications in super-resolved object identification, remote sensing and quantum enhanced imaging.

Cooperative intelligent transport system (C-ITS) applications rely on knowledge of the geographical positions of vehicles. Unfortunately, satellite-based positioning systems (e.g., GPS and Galileo) are unable to provide sufficiently accurate position information for many important applications and in certain challenging but common environments (e.g., urban canyons and tunnels). This project addresses this problem by combining traditional satellite systems with an innovative use of on-board sensing and infrastructure-based wireless communication technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, ITS-G5, UWB tracking, Zigbee, Bluetooth, LTE...) to produce advanced, highly-accurate positioning technologies for C-ITS. The results will be integrated into the facilities layer of ETSI C-ITS architecture and will thereby become available for all C-ITS applications, including those targeting the challenging use cases Traffic Safety of Vulnerable Users and Autonomous Driving/platooning. The project will therefore go beyond ego- and infra-structure-based positioning by incorporating them as building blocks to develop an enhanced European-wide positioning service platform based on enhanced Local Dynamic Maps and built on open European standards. Proof-of-concept systems developed in the project will combine infrastructure devices, reference vehicles, communication between road users and offline processing, and will be evaluated under real conditions at TASS' test site in Helmond, with the objective of assessing its capabilities to provide high precision positioning to C-ITS applications. When possible, codes and prototypes will be fully open-source and made available to the larger research community as well as to the automotive industry at the end of the project. All achievements will be published in top-tier events further guaranteeing an open-access to all technical publications produced. The project also aims at a strong commitment to bringing the developed solutions to standardization bodies

Current driver assistance systems are not all-weather capable. They offer comfort and safety in sound environmental conditions. However, in adverse weather conditions where the accident risks are highest they malfunction or even fail. Now that we are progressing towards automated cars and work machines, the requirements of fully reliable environment perception are only accentuated. The project is focusing on automated driving and its key enabling technology, environment perception. Consequently, project’s main objective is to develop and validate an all-weather sensor suit for traffic services, driver assistance and automated driving. Extended driving environment perception capability with smart, reliable and cost-efficient sensing system is necessary to meet the targets of all future driver assistance system applications. These targets need to be met regardless of location, weather or time of the day. Only by means of reliable and robust sensing system upcoming automated driving will be possible. The new sensor suit is based on a smart integration of three different technologies: (i) Radio radar, 77 GHz-81 GHz, (MIMO Radar); (ii) Gated short wave infrared camera with pulsed laser illumination (SWIR camera)and (iii) Short-wave infrared LIDAR (SWIR Lidar). Such a full fusion approach has never been investigated before, so that the outcome will advance the state-of-the-art significantly and demonstrate the potential of all-weather environment perception. DENSE innovation lies in the provision of a brilliant restored enriched colour image from a degraded infrared image and consequently, this is followed by a variety of application fields for low cost solutions. An important aim is also to close the gap to US developments in the field and avoid their restrictions for selling components overseas for strategic reasons and strengthen the position of European industry in worldwide competition.

VIZTA project, coordinated by ST Micrelectronics, aims at developing innovative technologies in the field of optical sensors and laser sources for short to long-range 3D-imaging and to demonstrate their value in several key applications including automotive, security, smart buildings, mobile robotics for smart cities, and industry4.0. The key differentiating 12-inch Silicon sensing technologies developed during VIZTA are: • Innovative SPAD and lock-in pixel for Time of Flight architecture sensors • Unprecedent and cost-effective NIR and RGB-Z filters on-chip solutions • complex RGB+Z pixel architectures for multimodal 2D/3D imaging For short-range sensors : advanced VCSEL sources including wafer-level GaAs optics and associated high speed driver These developed differentiating technologies allows the development and validation of innovative 3D imaging sensors products with the following highly integrated prototypes demonstrators: • High resolution (>77 000 points) time-of-flight ranging sensor module with integrated VCSEL, drivers, filters and optics. • Very High resolution (VGA min) depth camera sensor with integrated filters and optics For Medium and Long range sensing, VIZTA also adresses new LiDAR systems with dedicated sources, optics and sensors Technology developments of sensors and emitters are carried out by leading semiconductor product suppliers (ST Microelectronics, Philips, III-V Lab) with the support of equipment suppliers (Amat, Semilab) and CEA Leti RTO. VIZTA project also include the developement of 6 demonstrators for key applications including automotive, security, smart buildings, mobile robotics for smart cities, and industry4.0 with a good mix of industrial and academic partners (Ibeo, Veoneer, Ficosa, Beamagine, IEE, DFKI, UPC, Idemia, CEA-List, ISD, BCB, IDE, Eurecat). VIZTA consortium brings together 23 partners from 9 countries in Europe: France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Luxembourg, Latvia, Sweden, Hungary, and United Kingdom.