Open Arsenal

Open tools for next-generation optical array control systems.

PhotonForge is an open-source framework for designing, simulating, and controlling array-based optical emitter systems. It is built around the idea that modern optical hardware—such as VCSEL arrays, laser diode grids, and LED matrices—should not be treated as collections of independent emitters, but as coordinated, programmable systems capable of producing structured and adaptive light behavior. PhotonForge provides a unified architecture that bridges simulation, control logic, feedback systems, and hardware interfaces.

At its core, PhotonForge introduces a modular control stack that separates system responsibilities into distinct layers. The scheduler coordinates emitter timing and spatial activation patterns under physical constraints such as power, thermal load, and interference. The models layer provides physically grounded approximations for optical propagation, sensor response, and system drift, ensuring that simulation and real-world behavior remain aligned. The core abstraction layer unifies all emitters under a consistent API, allowing complex arrays to be controlled as a single programmable field.

PhotonForge also includes a closed-loop feedback system that enables real-time adaptation based on sensor input. This allows emitter arrays to adjust dynamically to environmental conditions, system drift, or signal degradation. Combined with the real-time execution engine, PhotonForge can transition from simulation environments to hardware deployments while maintaining deterministic timing behavior and predictable control flow.

To support scalability and research applications, PhotonForge includes distributed network control for coordinating multiple optical arrays, a telemetry system for system-wide observability, and an optimization layer for improving performance under complex constraints. Together, these features make PhotonForge a foundation for next-generation optical systems research, enabling experimentation in structured light, adaptive photonics, and programmable sensing architectures.