An Optical Communication System For Aircraft

Thomas N. Rodgers

doi:10.1117/12.956706

21 December 1978 An Optical Communication System For Aircraft

Thomas N. Rodgers

Proceedings Volume 0150, Laser and Fiber Optics Communications; (1978) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956706
Event: 22nd Annual Technical Symposium, 1978, San Diego, United States

Abstract

On many occasions it is required to modify a USAF aircraft to render it capable of supporting a Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) effort. This modification usually involves the addition of wires in the aircraft to gather and transmit data to an external instrumentation pod. This problem has limited the types of aircraft that could be modified to support tests and has been the cause for lengthy and expensive delays in test support. The Optical Communicator System (OCS) will minimize the previously mentioned problems and supply capabilities not now realizable. With the OCS, data is transmitted from the data source to the instrumentation pod via a modulated, non-coherent light beam. The OCS is capable of handling 140 independent, simultaneous data channels under realistic airborne environmental conditions. Features of the system include: visible light beam utilized for alignment, a memory to assure logical data output at all times; a "test word" to assure optical path integrity while in-flight; sufficient system beamwidth to allow for relative motion between the instrumentation pod on the aircraft wing and the data initia-tion point. The OCS is completing airborne acceptance testing at this time.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas N. Rodgers "An Optical Communication System For Aircraft", Proc. SPIE 0150, Laser and Fiber Optics Communications, (21 December 1978); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956706

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KEYWORDS

Telecommunications

Optical communications

Transmitters

Light emitting diodes

Receivers

Analog electronics

Data communications

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