A prototype coarse pointing mechanism for laser communication
Abstract
Laser communication systems promise orders-of-magnitude improvement in data throughput per unit SWaP (size, weight and power) compared to conventional RF systems. However, in order for lasercom to make sense economically as part of a worldwide connectivity solution, the cost per terminal still needs to be significantly reduced. In this paper, we describe a coarse pointing mechanism that has been designed with an emphasis on simplicity, making use of conventional materials and commercial off-the-shelf components wherever possible. An overview of the design architecture and trades is presented, along with various results and practical lessons learned during prototype integration and test.
- Publication:
-
Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series
- Pub Date:
- February 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.2264086
- Bibcode:
- 2017SPIE10096E..0SM