Challenges facing mobile free-space optical communications

Mouhammad K. Al-Akkoumi; Alan Harris; Robert C. Huck; James J. Sluss Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.818696

6 May 2009 Challenges facing mobile free-space optical communications

Mouhammad K. Al-Akkoumi, Alan Harris, Robert C. Huck, James J. Sluss Jr.

Proceedings Volume 7324, Atmospheric Propagation VI; 73240L (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818696
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2009, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Significant research efforts are underway to investigate the application of Free-Space Optics (FSO) for the provision of high-bandwidth communications links between mobile platforms. The use of FSO between mobile platforms introduces several interesting challenges in addition to those found in traditional fixed link FSO systems. In this paper, some of the major hurdles facing fixed FSO communications that carry over into links between mobile platforms are analyzed. These topics include: issues with alignment and tracking, an investigation into the weather and its affect on the link, and a study of the feasibility of having uninterrupted communications links. Other topics presented unique to mobile applications include: the security risks during link alignment, maintaining the link while tracking and optical power and beam divergence variations that are introduced into the system. In this paper the results from simulation work performed on some of these issues along with proposed solutions to the challenges are presented.

Citation Download Citation

Mouhammad K. Al-Akkoumi, Alan Harris, Robert C. Huck, and James J. Sluss Jr. "Challenges facing mobile free-space optical communications", Proc. SPIE 7324, Atmospheric Propagation VI, 73240L (6 May 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.818696

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