Special Online Micro/Nano Seminar Series 2026

February 18, 2026, 2:00 PM Central Time
Hosted by ASPE Micro/Nano Committee, Chairman: Michael Cullinan, UT Austin.

Precision Engineering Challenges and Capabilities of Bright Silicon Technologies’ Lightfield Directing Array (LDA)

Abstract: Robert Panas will be introducing the precision engineering challenges and capabilities of the flagship product for Bright Silicon Technologies, the Lightfield Directing Array (LDA).  The LDA is a new class of solid-state optical beam control technology that offers the large range of motion and high optical quality of a gimbal combined with the speed of a fast-steering mirror, in a low-Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) package.  The LDA combines conventional microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) elements with advanced fabrication techniques to achieve performance beyond established and emerging beam control technologies.

Robert Panas Biography:
Robert Panas is the CTO at Bright Silicon Technologies (BST), a startup focused on maturing a solid-state optical beamsteering technology called the Lightfield Directing Array, which was spun out from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). He started in March 2022 after working as a research engineer at LLNL for 8 years in the Center for Micro-Nano Technologies, where he led a team developing the LDA technology. Robert graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a S.B. in physics (’07), a S.B. in Mechanical Engineering (’07), a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (’09) and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (’13). Robert leads precision micro/nano design and manufacturing efforts at BST, focused on developing the electronics, controls and manufacturing capabilities required to enable the LDA. His areas of expertise include MOEMS, additive micromanufacturing, optics, X-ray metrology, uncertainty analysis, compliant mechanism design, and high-speed digital control. Dr. Panas is an NDSEG fellow and a member of the American Society for Precision Engineering (ASPE) since 2007, now the immediate past President for the society having served on the: Organizing Committee (2013, 2014), Membership Committee (2013, 2014), Co-chair Precision Engineering Challenge (2014), Chair Precision Engineering Challenge (2015), Chair MNTLC (2016-2020) and the Board of Directors (2017-2020), and executive committee as President Elect (2022), President (2023), and Immediate Past President (2024). He has 34 patents and applications as well as 87 papers published and submitted.