Abstract: The described aspects and implementations include a method for using transformers to generate maps for use by AVs. The method includes generating an input embedding based, at least in part, on sensing data from a sensing system of the AV; selecting one or more transformer decoder queries directing a transformer decoder to a particular portion of the input embedding; generating, using the one or more transformer decoder queries and the input embedding as input to the transformer decoder, one or more driving environment embeddings for a navigation system of the AV, and each driving environment embedding comprises a vector representation of a feature of the driving environment; providing the one or more driving environment embeddings to the navigation system of the AV, wherein the navigation system is configured to navigate the AV in the driving environment based, at least in part, on the one or more driving environment embeddings.

Abstract: The described aspects and implementations enable online lane estimation and tracking in autonomous vehicle and driver assistance applications. In one implementation, disclosed is a method and a system to perform the method that includes receiving perception data indicative of driving lanes and reference objects in a driving environment of a vehicle, identifying target destinations corresponding to the driving lanes, determining candidate driving paths connecting a starting location with one of the target destinations, selecting a target driving path from the candidate driving paths based on geometric properties of each candidate driving path and a spatial relationship of a respective candidate driving path to the reference objects, and causing a motion of the vehicle to be modified based on the target driving path.

Abstract: In some implementations, a pump-signal fiber comprises a plurality of pump fibers configured to carry pump light and a signal fiber, surrounded by the plurality of pump fibers. In some implementations, the signal fiber comprises a core configured to carry signal light, a first cladding layer, surrounding the core, configured to confine the signal light within the core, and a second cladding layer, surrounding the first cladding layer.

Abstract: A fiber laser system includes a first optical fiber that includes a first core with a first diameter and a second optical fiber that includes a second core with a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. An end of the first optical fiber is connected to an end of the second optical fiber at a splice point. A center axis of the first core is not aligned with a center axis of the second core at the splice point. An offset distance at the splice point between the center axis of the first core and the center axis of the second core is greater than 2 micrometers. A stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) content of an output of the fiber laser system is less than or equal to 1%.

Abstract: A laser system may include a compensation component to receive a control signal indicating a target output power of an output laser pulse to be provided by the laser system, and generate a compensated current signal based on the control signal. The compensated current signal may be generated to reduce a difference between the target output power of the laser pulse and an actual output power of the laser pulse over a period of time during the laser pulse. The laser system may include a diode pump drive circuit to generate a drive current based on the compensated current signal. The laser system may include a diode pump module to generate pump light based on the drive current. The laser system may include an optical output to provide the output laser pulse.

Abstract: In some implementations, a free space light coupling system comprises an active fiber; a first set of optical components configured to couple signal light propagating in free space into the active fiber; and a second set of optical components configured to couple pump light propagating in free space into the active fiber. In some implementations, the active fiber is spliced to an endcap at a splice point where the pump light is coupled into the active fiber. In some implementations, the free space light coupling system comprises a metal cold plate having a groove shaped to accommodate the active fiber at the splice point where the pump light is coupled into the active fiber, and the active fiber has a coated section mounted within the groove.

Abstract: In some implementations, an optical fiber combiner includes a glass tube. A stray light stripper may be defined at a surface of the glass tube. The stray light stripper may be defined by perturbations in the surface of the glass tube or a layer of a material, on the glass tube, having a different refractive index than a refractive index of the glass tube. The perturbations may be grooves, notches, or etches. The optical fiber combiner may include a fiber bundle, disposed within the glass tube, including a plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: In some implementations, an optical system comprises a laser engine that comprises multiple laser sources configured to generate multiple lasers associated with different wavelengths and a signal combiner configured to combine the multiple lasers associated with the different wavelengths into broadband laser light. In some implementations, the optical system may further comprise a process cable configured to transmit the broadband laser light and a process head configured to receive the broadband laser light via the process cable such that the process head may focus the broadband laser light onto a workpiece.

Abstract: A master oscillator power amplifier system includes a seed laser oscillator and a master laser oscillator. The seed laser oscillator includes a first oscillator fiber with a first laser cavity configured to convert a first pump light into a first seed laser light in a fundamental mode as the first pump light interacts with a fiber core of the first oscillator fiber. The master laser oscillator includes a second oscillator fiber with second laser cavity configured to receive and convert the first seed laser light into a second seed laser light in the fundamental mode as the first seed laser light interacts with a fiber core of the second oscillator fiber, and receive and convert a second pump light into a primary laser light in the fundamental mode as the second pump light interacts with the fiber core of the second oscillator fiber.

Abstract: In some implementations, a pump-signal combiner may comprise a plurality of pump fibers configured to receive pump light and to transmit the pump light into a cladding of an output fiber and one or more signal fibers, surrounded by the plurality of pump fibers. In some implementations, the one or more signal fibers may each comprise an input section, coupled to the one or more first laser sources, having an input core diameter; an output section, coupled to the output fiber, having an output core diameter; a first tapered section, adjacent to the input section, in which a core diameter increases from the input core diameter to a maximum value; and a second tapered section, adjacent to the output section, in which a core diameter decreases from the maximum value to the output core diameter.

Abstract: A system may perform an uptapering process to cause a signal fiber to have a fiber core with a first uptapered thickness profile and a fiber cladding with a second uptapered thickness profile. The system may perform, after performing the uptapering process, an uptapering removal process to cause the fiber cladding of the signal fiber to not have the second uptapered thickness profile. The system may perform, after performing the uptapering removal process, a bundling process to bundle the signal fiber and a set of one or more pump fibers in a bundle configuration. The system may perform, after performing the bundling process, a bundle unification process to cause the bundle configuration to form a unified bundle configuration. The system may perform, after performing the bundle unification process, an attachment process to cause an end of the unified bundle configuration to attach to an end of an output fiber.

Abstract: As described herein, a mode field adapter (MFA) comprises a first fiber including a core associated with a fundamental mode field diameter and a cladding with a diameter that decreases toward a waist. The MFA comprises a second fiber including a core associated with a fundamental mode field diameter that matches the fundamental mode field of the first fiber at the waist and a cladding with a diameter that matches the diameter of the cladding of the first fiber at the waist and increases from the waist of the second fiber. The cladding of the first fiber may be adiabatically etched such that a core-to-cladding ratio of the first fiber changes over a length of the first fiber, and the core and the cladding of the second fiber may be adiabatically tapered such that a core-to-cladding ratio of the second fiber is constant over a length of the second fiber.

Abstract: A fiber combiner includes a capillary and a plurality of input fibers disposed within the capillary. A first portion of the capillary has a first non-zero slope profile along a first portion of an output end of the fiber combiner. A second portion of the capillary has a second non-zero slope profile along a second portion of the output end of the fiber combiner. The second non-zero slope profile is different than the first non-zero slope profile.

Abstract: As described herein, a mode field adapter (MFA) comprises a first fiber including a core associated with a fundamental mode field diameter and a cladding with a diameter that decreases toward a waist. The MFA comprises a second fiber including a core associated with a fundamental mode field diameter that matches the fundamental mode field of the first fiber at the waist and a cladding with a diameter that matches the diameter of the cladding of the first fiber at the waist and increases from the waist of the second fiber. The cladding of the first fiber may be adiabatically etched such that a core-to-cladding ratio of the first fiber changes over a length of the first fiber, and the core and the cladding of the second fiber may be adiabatically tapered such that a core-to-cladding ratio of the second fiber is constant over a length of the second fiber.