Shipborne Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing Experimental Verifications towards Satellite-to-Sea Laser Communication

Abstract

Acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) is a key technology in free space laser communication that has a characteristically high precision. In this paper, we report the acquisition and tracking of low-Earth-orbit satellites using shipborne ATP and verify the feasibility of establishing optical links between laser communication satellites and ships in the future. In particular, we developed a shipborne ATP system for satellite-to-sea applications in laser communications. We also designed an acquisition strategy for satellite-to-sea laser communication. In addition, a method was proposed for improving shipborne ATP pointing error. We tracked some stars at sea, achieving a pointing accuracy of less than 180μrad.We then acquired and tracked some low-Earth-orbit satellites at sea, achieving a tracking accuracy of about 20μrad. The results achieved in this work experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of ATP in satellite-to-sea laser communications.

Modeling and Correction of Pointing Errors in Gimbals-Type Optical Communication Terminals on Motion Platforms

“…The results of our proposed model were compared to the results of the model in reference [13]. We refer to the model in reference [13] as Model A and our proposed model as Model B. We put the device system on a slope and rotated the whole device to change the attitude.…”

“…Installation errors are illustrated in Fig. 3 [13]. Geometric errors occur during the manufacturing, assembly, installation, and operation of a GOCT.…”

“…However, the cited literature does not include the entire error sources when calibrating pointing errors. He et al [13] evaluated simultaneous installation errors and geometric errors. They used the least square method twice to estimate the installation errors and geometric errors, respectively.…”

Performance evaluation and security analysis of ground‐to‐satellite FSO system with CV‐QKD protocol

“…In these experiments, an ATP system composed of two control loops: coarse control and fine control has been developed to maintain the smooth distribution of secret keys. A shipborne ATP system for satellite-to-sea applications in laser communications has been developed in [31]. An acquisition strategy for satellite-to-sea laser communication has been designed and a method for improving shipborne ATP pointing error has been proposed.…”

Special Issue on Optical Communications and Networking: Prospects in Industrial Applications

“…Shipborne Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing Experimental Verifications towards Satellite-to-Sea Laser Communication [11] Acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) with high precision is a key technology in free space laser communication. In this paper, the authors report the acquisition and tracking of low-Earth-orbit satellites using shipborne ATP and verify the feasibility of establishing optical links between laser communication satellites and ships in the future.…”