Broadband backhaul communication for stratospheric platforms: the stratospheric optical payload experiment (STROPEX)

Horwath, Joachim; Knapek, Markus; Epple, Bernhard; Brechtelsbauer, Martin; Wilkerson, Brandon

doi:10.1117/12.680824

Cited by 34 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…For example, the DLR Capanina Trial 2 weather balloon used a Microair T2000 transponder. This transponder cost $2,300 and weighed 0.6 kg [1]. For a slightly higher price and weight, the Filser TRT800 could have been used that had the capability to transmit ADS-B information.…”

Section: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcastmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low cost off-the-shelf receivers can be used and their accuracy is ever increasing. Europe is currently developing the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System which, according to a 2004 agreement between the United States and the European Union, will be fully compatible and interoperable with GPS [1]. This promises increased integrity and accuracy of GNSS solutions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…2. These terminals successfully demonstrated a 64 km aeronautical optical communication link in August 2005 [1,2] To initiate an optical communication link between two OCTs, both terminals must simultaneously accomplish the following steps:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Concepts for fast acquisition in optical communications systems

2006

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As free-space laser communications systems proliferate due to improved technology and transmission techniques, optical communication networks comprised of ground stations, aircraft, high altitude platforms, and satellites become an attainable goal. An important consideration for optical networks is the ability of optical communication terminals (OCT) to quickly locate one another and align their laser beams to initiate the acquisition sequence. This paper investigates promising low-cost technologies and novel approaches that will facilitate the targeting and acquisition tasks between counter terminals. Specifically, two critical technology areas are investigated: position determination (which includes location and attitude determination) and inter-terminal communications. A feasibility study identified multipleantenna global navigation satellite system (GNSS) systems and GNSS-aided inertial systems as possible position determination solutions. Personal satellite communication systems (e.g. Iridium or Inmarsat), third generation cellular technology (IMT-2000/UMTS), and a relatively new air traffic surveillance technology called Autonomous Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) were identified as possible inter-terminal communication solutions. A GNSS-aided inertial system and an ADS-B system were integrated into an OCT to demonstrate their utility in a typical optical communication scenario. Testing showed that these technologies have high potential in future OCTs, although improvements can be made to both to increase tracking accuracy.

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Section: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcastmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Concepts for fast acquisition in optical communications systems

2006

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“…During the Capanina STROPEX trial it has been shown that it is possible to use only GPS positions of the counter terminal, transmitted via signaling link, for acquisition of a partner terminal [1]. The duration for an acquisition or a reacquisition run during this trial was up to 20 seconds and whenever the line of sight had been blocked, the Capanina terminal had to do a reacquisition of the counter terminal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using a GPS-aided inertial system for coarse-pointing of free-space optical communication terminals

Epple

2006

SPIE Proceedings

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In the Capanina project, it has been shown that it is possible to use solely GPS positions for coarse-pointing of a stratospheric free-space optical communication terminal. Although this system design has been shown to be functional, it has to deal with acquisition and reacquisition times of up to 20 seconds. Whenever the line of sight is blocked, the Capanina terminal has to do a reacquisition of the partner terminal.In land-mobile systems, e.g. transmission between a moving vehicle and a fixed station, where objects like trees or buildings can frequently block the line of sight, this type of acquisition/reacquisition is not acceptable.In this paper a revised system design will be shown, which reduces the initial acquisition time to below a second by using information from a GPS-Aided Inertial System (GPS-INS). It will also be shown how reacquisition times and coarse-pointing errors can be reduced to a minimum by using feedback from the optical fine-pointing device. Finally a demonstrator setup and some test results will be presented.

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“…Details on the flight system including the flight trajectory can be found in [2]. Results of the atmospheric measurements will be presented in Section 4.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The DLR ground station in the optical payload experiment (STROPEX): results of the atmospheric measurement instruments

et al. 2006

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Optical communication at 1.25Gbps was successfully demonstrated in a downlink from a stratospheric balloon platform at 22km altitude to a Transportable Optical Ground Station. The experiments took place at ESRANGE, Kiruna, Sweden in August 2005. In addition to optical communications, several atmospheric measurement instruments (Differential Image Motion Monitor, Turbulence Profiler) were used to study the influence of atmospheric turbulence on the optical link. A description of the measurement instruments is given and results of the turbulence instruments (Fried parameter r 0 , C n 2 profile) are presented.

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Broadband backhaul communication for stratospheric platforms: the stratospheric optical payload experiment (STROPEX)

Cited by 34 publications

References 7 publications

Concepts for fast acquisition in optical communications systems

Concepts for fast acquisition in optical communications systems

Using a GPS-aided inertial system for coarse-pointing of free-space optical communication terminals

The DLR ground station in the optical payload experiment (STROPEX): results of the atmospheric measurement instruments

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