SA Photonics has developed a family of compact Fiber Optic Gyroscopes (FOGs) for platform stabilization applications. The use of short fiber coils enables the high update rates required for stabilization applications but presents challenges to maintain high performance. We are able to match the performance of much larger FOGs by utilizing several innovative technologies. These technologies include source noise reduction to minimize Angular Random Walk (ARW), advanced digital signal processing that minimizes bias drift at high update rates, and advanced passive thermal packaging that minimizes temperature induced bias drift while not significantly affecting size, weight, or power. In addition, SA Photonics has developed unique distributed FOG packaging technologies allowing the FOG electronics and photonics to be packaged remotely from the sensor head or independent axis heads to minimize size, weight, and power at the sensing location(s). The use of these technologies has resulted in high performance, including ARW less than 0.001 deg/rt-hr and bias drift less than 0.004 deg/hr at an update rate of 10 kHz, and total packaged volume less than 30 cu. in. for a 6 degree of freedom FOG-based IMU. Specific applications include optical beam stabilization for LIDAR and LADAR, beam stabilization for long-range free-space optical communication, Optical Inertial Reference Units for HEL stabilization, and Ka band antenna pedestal pointing and stabilization. The high performance of our FOGs also enables their use in traditional navigation and positioning applications. This paper will review the technologies enabling our high-performance compact FOGs, and will provide performance test results.
A 150 km free-space optical (FSO) communication link between Maui (Haleakala) and Hawaii
(Mauna Loa) was demonstrated by JHU/APL and AOptix Technologies, Inc. in September 2006.
Over a 5 day period, multiple configurations including single channel 2.5 Gbps transmission,
single channel 10 Gbps, and four wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) 10 Gbps channels for
an aggregate data rate of 40 Gbps were demonstrated. Links at data rates from 10 to 40 Gb/s were
run in excess of 3 contiguous hours. Data on the received power, frame synchronization losses,
and bit error rate were recorded.
This paper will report on the data transfer performance (bit error rates, frame synchronization
issues) of this link over a 5 day period. A micropulse lidar was run concurrently, and on a
parallel path with the FSO link, recording data on scattering loss and visibility. Comparisons
between the state of the link due to weather and the data transfer performance will be described.
AOptix demonstrated a simulated air-to-air laser communications (laser-com) system over a 147Km distance by
establishing a laser communication link between the islands of Hawaii and Maui. We expect the atmospheric conditions
encountered during this demonstration to be representative of the worst seeing conditions that could be expected for an
actual air to air link. AOptix utilized laser-com terminal incorporating Adaptive Optics (AO) to perform high speed
tracking and aberration correction to reduce the effects of the seeing.
The demonstration showed the feasibility of establishing high data rate point to point laser-com links between aircraft. In
conjunction with Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory networking equipment we were able to
demonstrate a 40Gbit DWDM link, providing significantly more data throughput than is available using RF
technologies.
In addition to being very high data rate, the link demonstrates very low beam spread, which gives very high covertness,
and a high degree of data security. Since the link is based on 1550nm optical wavelengths it is inherently resistant to
jamming.
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