Multielement FSO Transceivers Alignment for Inter-UAV Communications

Abstract

Given the increased interest in aerial communications, Free-space Optics (FSO) has gained considerable attention for its ability to deliver wider bandwidth, license-free and secure communication. FSO was initially developed for fixed platforms. As such, the current push to introduce mobility is one of the greatest challenges for FSO developers. This paper presents the first open-loop alignment/stability analysis of hovering multirotors proven to maintain an FSO link despite inherent instability. Communication distance, wavelength, and platform deviation are among the many parameters evaluated in our model. We characterize fiber-bundle transceivers, as an example of optical arrays, and their applicability to aerial FSO communication. Our simulation is based on static lab measurements combined with theoretical analysis and optical geometrical intersection models. Analyses indicated that rotational deviation has a much higher impact on performance than translational deviation. Current commercial multirotor platforms proved adequate for future FSO communication, with 16 to 30% expected throughput when employing suitable optical arrays. We conducted a parametric sweep test to determine optimal and marginal receiver parameters based on platform characteristics and performance metrics. This analysis was conducted and reported as one example of the many applications that our developed mathematical models support.

A Survey of Channel Modeling for UAV Communications

“…The AA propagation channel is an important aspect of inter-UAV communications and can be exploited in applications, such as aerial wireless sensor networks [56], multi-UAV networks or UAV swarms [69], flying ad-hoc networks [76] and wireless back-haul connections using emerging technologies [77], [78]. In all these application, characteristics of the AA propagation depend mostly on the environmental conditions, UAV flight direction, LOS alignment, relative velocities and ground reflections.…”

Reconfigurable routing protocol with optical sphere in FSO MANET

“…Kaadan et al have presented the open‐loop alignment/stability analysis of multirotors which levitates to maintain a FSO link inspite of inherent instability. In their model, the parameters communication distance, wavelength, and platform deviation are evaluated.…”

Topology Control Algorithm and Dynamic Management Scheme for Mobile FSO Networks

“…As we know, because of the fragile FSO link, APT technology is very important for FSO communication, and this technology has seen considerable development [20,21]. In our model, each cluster head is equipped with an omnidirectional optical antenna, which greatly reduces the equipment size and power consumption.…”