High-speed laser communications in UAV scenarios
2011
Optical links, based on coherent homodyne detection and BPSK modulation with bidirectional data transmission of 5.6
Gbps over distances of about 5,000 km and BER of 10 -8 , have been sufficiently verified in space. The verification results
show that this technology is suitable not only for space applications but also for applications in the troposphere.
After a brief description of the Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) for space applications, the paper consequently
discusses the future utilization of satellite-based optical data links for Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) operations of High
Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). It is shown that the use of optical frequencies is
the only logical consequence of an ever-increasing demand for bandwidth. In terms of Network Centric Warfare it is
highly recommended that Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) of the future should incorporate that technology which
allows almost unlimited bandwidth. The advantages of optical communications especially for Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance (ISR) are underlined. Moreover, the preliminary design concept of an airborne laser communication
terminal is described. Since optical bi-directional links have been tested between a LCT in space and a TESAT Optical
Ground Station (OGS), preliminary analysis on tracking and BER performance and the impact of atmospheric
disturbances on coherent links will be presented.
Keywords:
- Computer vision
- Optical communication
- Remote sensing
- Free-space optical communication
- Artificial intelligence
- Communications satellite
- Bandwidth (signal processing)
- Electronic engineering
- Data transmission
- Wideband Global SATCOM
- Physics
- Bandwidth management
- Phase-shift keying
- High-Altitude Long Endurance
- Simulation
- Correction
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