Compact low-cost non-RF communication solutions for unmanned ground vehicles

Abstract

Our warfighters need non-RF communication systems with low SWAP + cost to address shortcomings of RF. Optical communication systems have inherent benefits over RF, such as significantly higher bandwidth (typically 10 Mb/s – 100 Gb/s), LPI/LPD, jamming and EMI immunity, usability during radio silence, and enormous available unlicensed spectrum. Here we discuss optical fiber and free-space optical communication (FSOC) technologies for unmanned ground vehicles. NLOS UV, LOS-visible, and LOS IR FSOC approaches are described.