LOW COST POINTING AND TRACKING SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATION

OPTICAL COMMUNICATION LINKS HAVE SEVERAL ADVANTAGES FOR SHIP-TO-SHIP APPLICATIONS. KEY FEATURES WHICH MAKE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION ATTRACTIVE INCLUDE HIGH DATA BANDWIDTH AND EASE OF PROTECTION FROM INTERCEPTION. THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR POINTING AND TRACKING SYSTEMS FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATION LINKS ARE DEMANDING WHEN EITHER TRANSMITTER OR RECEIVER IS ON A MOVING VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, SUCH SYSTEMS ARE COSTLY TO DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE. THIS RESEARCH PROGRAM SEEKS COST-EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS FOR THE POINTING AND TRACKING SYSTEM. PHASE I PROCEEDS WITH A FOUR-STEP PLAN IN A TOP-DOWN FASHION TO A LOW COST POINTING AND TRACKING SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT HAVE UNDESIRED COMPLICATIONS AND COSTS ON THE OVERALL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE AREAS OF MECHANICAL DESIGN AND FABRICATION, OPTICAL AND CONTROL CONFIGURATIONS, MICROPROCESSOR BASED CONTROL ELECTRONICS, SENSORS, MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES WILL BE EVALUATED.