Hybrid beam steering system for laser communication between mobile platforms

Vladimir V. Nikulin; Donald J. Nicholson

doi:10.1117/12.708290

12 February 2007 Hybrid beam steering system for laser communication between mobile platforms

Vladimir V. Nikulin, Donald J. Nicholson

Proceedings Volume 6457, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XIX and Atmospheric Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves; 645709 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.708290
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2007, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

For many practical needs, laser communication systems must support operation between mobile platforms. Engineering robust links; however, will depend on several innovations. In particular, successful pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) require the use of a beacon signal and the capability of accurate and agile alignment of the line-of-sight (LOS) between the communicating terminals performed over a large field of regard. While mechanical devices, such as gimbals, offer relatively slow tracking over a very wide range, they lack in pointing bandwidth necessary for rejecting high frequency vibrations and beam deflection caused by the optical turbulence. In contrast, fast steering and especially non-mechanical devices, such as Bragg cells, enjoy very high bandwidth (on the order of several kHz), but their effective range is very small. Inherent limitations of both gimbals and fast steerers result in shortcomings of the entire PAT system when either of these devices is used as a sole beam steerer. Therefore, focus needs to be shifted to hybrid architectures, exploiting the advantages of the constituting elements. This paper demonstrates a system combining a robotic manipulator with two acousto-optic cells and presents the algorithm development and the simulation results.

Citation Download Citation

Vladimir V. Nikulin and Donald J. Nicholson "Hybrid beam steering system for laser communication between mobile platforms", Proc. SPIE 6457, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies XIX and Atmospheric Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves, 645709 (12 February 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.708290

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