Session
Session 2: Delivering Mission Success
Abstract
Omnidirectional Optical Antennas (OOA) with 360o Field of Regard along with full-duplex laser communication capability can play a remarkable role in achieving sophisticated CubeSat mission that can achieve high speed (≥1Gbps), long distance (≥50km) data communication, data relaying among CubeSats and that processes formation flying ability. In this paper, we discuss miniature optical antenna design optimization techniques using COTS components to facilitate OOA development. In particular, we present challenges involving design tradeoffs among scanning mirror size, scanning angle, transmit beam width, beam divergence, pointing accuracy requirements and component availability in a SWaP-C limited system. We show that to achieve maximum SNR at long distance, the transmit laser beam diameter to mirror diameter ratio needs to be 0.8-0.9. Moreover, we show that the peak intensity varies and can decrease up to 70% over the mirror scanning range depending on transmitter beam size. Furthermore, we explain the effect of laser peak power, initial beam size and communication distance on Effective Communication Beam Width (ECBW) to maintain SNR≥10dB at 1Gb/s. We show that by choosing the optimum components and parameters an ECBW of ≥50m at 50km distance is achievable. Therefore, the communication link can endure angular disturbance of 50 μrad - 180.5 μrad.
Design Tradeoffs and Challenges of Omnidirectional Optical Antenna for High Speed, Long Range Inter CubeSat Data Communication
Omnidirectional Optical Antennas (OOA) with 360o Field of Regard along with full-duplex laser communication capability can play a remarkable role in achieving sophisticated CubeSat mission that can achieve high speed (≥1Gbps), long distance (≥50km) data communication, data relaying among CubeSats and that processes formation flying ability. In this paper, we discuss miniature optical antenna design optimization techniques using COTS components to facilitate OOA development. In particular, we present challenges involving design tradeoffs among scanning mirror size, scanning angle, transmit beam width, beam divergence, pointing accuracy requirements and component availability in a SWaP-C limited system. We show that to achieve maximum SNR at long distance, the transmit laser beam diameter to mirror diameter ratio needs to be 0.8-0.9. Moreover, we show that the peak intensity varies and can decrease up to 70% over the mirror scanning range depending on transmitter beam size. Furthermore, we explain the effect of laser peak power, initial beam size and communication distance on Effective Communication Beam Width (ECBW) to maintain SNR≥10dB at 1Gb/s. We show that by choosing the optimum components and parameters an ECBW of ≥50m at 50km distance is achievable. Therefore, the communication link can endure angular disturbance of 50 μrad - 180.5 μrad.
