How Cooperative Communication Distinguishes in Wireless Optical Systems

Wireless optical transmission has been included in 6G framework as a promising solution to break through the bottleneck of radio transmission in limited bandwidth as well as to facilitate the integrated space-air-ground network. Since the laser beam is vulnerable to atmospheric conditions, cooperative communication is introduced as a viable way to enhance the received signal strength of wireless optical links. In 6G era, wireless optical communication is anticipated for the high-speed interconnection among the aerial and spatial terminals with which cooperative communication can be readily implemented. Related works on wireless optical cooperative communication mostly inherit the enabling techniques from the wireless radio counterpart, while cooperative communication has not yet been invented toward the characteristics of wireless optical links. In this article, we aim to reveal the potential challenges and opportunities for wireless optical communication in 6G and propose a distinguished technological framework for wireless optical cooperative communication. The proposed framework can not only extend the prospect of cooperative communication but also help direct the way that wireless optical communication evolves in 6G.