Our approach incorporates an emerging technology, a 10.6 micro-meter laser source, with appropriate power, coupled with an innovative, very small Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based adaptive optics system, a low noise photo receiver, and an error correcting code. Each of these technologies alone show some promise for handling the scintillation conditions for the army battlefield application.With these technologies all integrated into a system, they will provide a high data rate capability with outstanding reliability. The system also includes a pointing and tracking system that uses a retro-reflected scheme with a high bandwidth closed loop fast steering mirror to mitigate the base motion jitter. Signal acquisition can be achieved within milliseconds with virtually no start-up time for both mobile and stationary communications. The system will be developed such that it can be retrofitted into existing platforms. In Phase I a proof-of-concept test will be performed in the lab, demonstrating the performance of the laser source coupled with the MEMS adaptive optics technology. Defining the requirements for ruggedizing this system will begin in Phase I and the development will commence in Phase II.
Benefits: High data rates, large bandwidth, secure communications, over a wireless network are the benefits. Commercial applications include robotic, automobile, and helicopter high bandwidth communications.
