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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Systems for establishing an ad-hoc optical communications link, the system comprising a first optical communications device at a first location and configured to generate a first optical signal; an optical receiver at a second location configured to receive the first optical signal; and a processor configured to generate, in response to the optical receiver receiving the first optical signal, instructions for directing a second optical communications device towards the first optical communications device, for establishing an optical communications link via a second optical signal generated by the first optical communications device. Systems for receiving an ad-hoc transmission of a message comprising a non-gimballed optical receiver having a frame rate greater than or equal to a modulation rate of the first optical signal, an optical aperture less than or equal to about 3 centimeters, and a field of view greater than or equal to about 5 degrees half angle.

Systems for establishing an ad-hoc optical communications link, the system comprising a first optical communications device at a first location and configured to generate a first optical signal; an optical receiver at a second location configured to receive the first optical signal; and a processor configured to generate, in response to the optical receiver receiving the first optical signal, instructions for directing a second optical communications device towards the first optical communications device, for establishing an optical communications link via a second optical signal generated by the first optical communications device. Systems for receiving an ad-hoc transmission of a message comprising a non-gimballed optical receiver having a frame rate greater than or equal to a modulation rate of the first optical signal, an optical aperture less than or equal to about 3 centimeters, and a field of view greater than or equal to about 5 degrees half angle.

A terminal (100) for optical communication by laser signals including a matrix image sensor used as a tracking and acquisition detector (2). The matrix image sensor is used simultaneously to check that a portion of the laser signals received by the terminal are injected into an optical fibre (1). A spectral filter element (22) is associated with the matrix image sensor to allow such a combination of functions.

A terminal (100) for optical communication by laser signals including a matrix image sensor used as a tracking and acquisition detector (2). The matrix image sensor is used simultaneously to check that a portion of the laser signals received by the terminal are injected into an optical fibre (1). A spectral filter element (22) is associated with the matrix image sensor to allow such a combination of functions.