System trials with modulated retro-reflective optical communication

摘要

Retro-reflective optical communication was investigated in field trials set up in urban and maritime environments. A 1550 nm laser transceiver with an output power ranging from 1 mW to 2 W and liquid crystal polarisation modulators in conjunction with corner cube reflectors were used in different experimental arrangements. The emphasis in this work was on system performance issues in tactical application such as the effects of platform vibrations and beam distortion induced by the atmospheric turbulence. In particular, the conditions for counteraction of communication interrupts, caused by line of sight jitter, using a dynamic tip-tilt mirror in the laser transceiver were tested. We report on the results from field trials wherein these issues have been addressed.