Executive Forum

2022 Innovators Awards: Meet the winners

Aug. 18, 2022

Record number of entries yields astonishing class of honorees for LFW's 2022 Innovators Awards.

Platinum: Scantinel Photonics GmbH

Scantinel Photonics is devoted in the development of next-generation solid-state FMCW sensing, focusing on using its proprietary FMCW technology to provide new dimensions of data information, and is committed to applying FMCW LiDAR distance and velocity measurement technology to autonomous mobility applications. Scantinel’s FMCW sensing approach adopts a wavelength of 1550 nanometers (meeting high standards for human eye safety), is equipped with a solid-state Optical Enhanced Array (OEA™) scanning system and provides a detection range of more than 300 meters at a very competitive cost target. Scantinel’s FMCW LiDAR technology offers significant benefits over legacy ToF LiDAR: - Longer detection range (300m @ 10% reflectivity) - Immunity to interference (sunlight, other LiDAR systems) with coherent detection - Instantaneous direct velocity information on every measurement point - Advanced Optical Enhanced Array system (OEA™) delivers outstanding solid-state scanning results - Modular and flexible approach adaptive to any application eco-system - Photonic integration enables significant reduction of cost, size, and weight of the LiDAR system - High-volume scalability based on standard CMOS technology Scantinel Photonics has applied for more than 30 patent families to protect its advanced FMCW sensing technology.

Slide 37 of 43

In all my years covering technology, it has always been the thirst for innovation that has driven my desire to learn more about how various technologies work—and how they provide new value. This year as we embarked on the annual Laser Focus World Innovators Awards process, it was encouraging to see so many companies submit entries. So many amazing innovations across a growing and ever-evolving space.

In selecting honorees, we employed a blind judging process where multiple judges evaluated each submission without knowing how the other judge scored the entry. This approached allowed us to even out any potential biases by created average scores for each innovation. Even with the diversity amongst the judges, it was surprising to see how many scores were consistent across the board.

Be sure to run through the slide show and see all the winners. It was a lot of fun going through the process.

About the Author

Peter Fretty | Market Leader/Group Editorial Director, Laser & Military

Peter Fretty began his role as the Market Leader, Laser & Military in June 2023; the group encompasses the Laser Focus World, Military & Aerospace Electronics, and Vision Systems Design brands. He also serves as Group Editorial Director, Laser & Military (effective spring 2023) and served as Editor in Chief of Laser Focus World since October 2021. Prior to that, he was Technology Editor for IndustryWeek for two years.

As a highly experienced journalist, he has regularly covered advances in manufacturing, information technology, and software. He has written thousands of feature articles, cover stories, and white papers for an assortment of trade journals, business publications, and consumer magazines.