Optical Communication Near Ships

The objective of this Phase I program is to develop a new method of communication to enable ships, personnel and small boats to create a tactical network. The Phase I program will develop a prototype Free Space Optical Network (FSON) including a ShipOptical Communications Array and a Personal Communicator. Particular attention will be paid to range, bandwidth, reliability and ease of use. FSON capabilities will be evaluated and demonstrated.In Phase II, a full size Ship Optical Communicator Array and minaturized Personal Communicators and Small Boat Transceivers will be designed and built and the FSON network will be demonstrated and evaluated in the field and on vessels. Phase III willinvolve the commercial manufacture and sale of FSON devices for operational use. Transceivers developed in this project will be installed on operational vessels and provided to personnel to provide enhance functional communication capability. The FSON should also be of commercial value in other short range military communicationsand for civilian communication under emergency circumstances and under conditions where RF cannot be used.