A system and method for high speed communication are provided. The system comprises a laser-based system for communication, the system comprising: an acquisition module configured to acquire and characterize a plurality of laser beams; a tracking module configured to track the acquired laser beams, the tracking module comprising: a beaconing feedback and beam divergence mechanism configured to control a beam and detect a beam; an adaptive learning unit configured to implement an adaptive learning detection algorithm to identify and track a unique optical signature from at least one of the acquired laser beams; and a pointing module configured to point at least one laser beam towards a target based on the acquired laser beams.

Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods for determining where to place and how to configure nodes in an optically connected network across a geographic region are provided. Various factors concerning the region may be collected, including, e.g.,: building locations and height, building types, population densities, backbone connection locations, recurring weather factors, geographic elevation, etc. The algorithm may iteratively place nodes based upon the accessible range of a preceding contemplated node position.

A transceiver comprises a transmitter including a light source, a modulator coupled to the light source, a driver that drives the modulator according to a set of driving conditions to cause the modulator to output optical signals based on light from the light source, and an output that passes first portions of the optical signals output by the modulator. The transceiver further comprises a first detector that detects second portions of the optical signals output from the modulator, and a receiver including a second detector that detects optical signals from an external transmitter.

A control device includes: a control signal transmitter transmitting a signal to a controlled device; a control signal receiver receiving a signal from the controlled device; a control signal generator generating a control signal of 2 bytes or more in one transmission cycle, in which an address is assigned to each byte, is ON/OFF switchable, and includes a main signal address and a collation signal address; and a control signal controller that, when the main and collation signal addresses are the same address, turns the collation signal address ON when the main signal address is ON and turns the collation signal address OFF when the main signal address is OFF, and when the main and collation signal addresses are inverted, turns the collation signal address OFF when the main signal address is ON and turns the collation signal address ON when the main signal address is OFF.

Beam locking for free space optical communication systems using vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays. The method includes: transmitting a communication beam from a light source of a first free space optical unit to a detector arranged proximate to a second FSO unit, the second FSO unit having reflective elements; transmitting one or more alignment beams from the light source to the second FSO unit; reflecting the one or more alignment beams or one or more portions thereof from the one or more reflective elements; detecting the reflected one or more alignment beams or one or more portions thereof at a light sensor; and determining whether the first FSO unit is aligned with the second FSO unit or whether the at least one communication beam is affected by one or more environmental conditions based on the detection of the reflected one or more alignment beams or the one or more portions thereof.

Beam locking for free space optical communication systems using vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays. The method includes: transmitting a communication beam from a light source of a first free space optical unit to a detector arranged proximate to a second FSO unit, the second FSO unit having reflective elements; transmitting one or more alignment beams from the light source to the second FSO unit; reflecting the one or more alignment beams or one or more portions thereof from the one or more reflective elements; detecting the reflected one or more alignment beams or one or more portions thereof at a light sensor; and determining whether the first FSO unit is aligned with the second FSO unit or whether the at least one communication beam is affected by one or more environmental conditions based on the detection of the reflected one or more alignment beams or the one or more portions thereof.

A communication unit (20) configured for wireless optical communication underwater, and including a communication transceiver (24), a housing (22), an adjustment mechanism (28), and a processor (40). The transceiver is accommodated in the housing, and includes a signal detector configured to receive an optical communication signal (50) approaching the unit within a main detection lobe centred on a receiver directivity axis (Ar), and/or includes a signal generator configured to emit an optical communication signal (52) via a main emission lobe centred on a transmitter directivity axis (At). The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust orientation(s) of the receiver and/or transmitter directivity axes relative to the housing. The processor is configured to determine a directional coordinate (Φi, Θi) for an approaching light signal (50, 54), and to control the adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust and align the orientation of the directivity axes with the determined directional coordinate.

A free space optical (FSO) communication node communicates via an FSO link with a remote FSO communication node that moves relative to the FSO node. The FSO node may be highly directional, and transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) beams of the FSO node may share optical paths (at least in part). Instead of directing a Tx beam along a point ahead angle relative to a Rx beam (which may result in undesirable Rx coupling losses), the Tx beam is directed based on the point ahead angle and a point ahead offset angle. The point ahead offset angle modifies the point ahead angle to reduce Rx coupling losses while keeping Tx pointing losses at least low enough to maintain the FSO link. In some cases, due to the point ahead offset angle, the Tx direction minimizes a sum of the Rx coupling losses and the Tx pointing losses.

Aspects of the technology include establishing a primary communication link between a communication system of a first balloon and a communication system of a second balloon, detecting a movement of the second balloon relative to the first balloon that is expected to cause the primary communication link to become unavailable at a given time during the movement, establishing an RF communication link between an RF communication system of the first balloon and an RF communication system of the second balloon, detecting that the movement of the second balloon relative to the first balloon is such that the primary communication link between the communication system of the first balloon and the optical communication system of the second balloon can be re-established, and re-establishing the primary communication link between the communication system of the first balloon and the communication system of the second balloon.

A system includes a high energy laser (HEL) configured to transmit a HEL beam aimed at a first location on an airborne target. The system also includes a beacon illuminator laser (BIL) configured to transmit a BIL beam aimed at a second location on the target, wherein the second location is offset from the first location. The system also includes at least one fast steering mirror (FSM) configured to steer the BIL beam to be spatially and angularly offset from the HEL beam. The system also includes at least one Coudé path FSM configured to simultaneously receive both the HEL beam and the BIL beam and steer the HEL beam and the BIL beam to correct for atmospheric jitter of the HEL beam and the BIL beam while maintaining the offset of the BIL beam from the HEL beam.