Airborne, Long-Range, Multi-Beam Optical Network Device

To address the Navy’s need for a free-space optical communications (FSOC) system that can be integrated with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes to continue advancing its Airborne, Long-Range, Multi-Beam Optical Network Device (ALMOND) in Phase II. Successfully developed and proven feasible in Phase I, the ALMOND system is based on a multi-aperture transceiver that supports multiple full-duplex links simultaneously and covers a 360 deg x 180 deg field of view (FOV) without using a gimbal. ALMOND performs autonomous beam acquisition and tracking without relying on radio frequency communications or GPS support, and can provide high pointing accuracy. Furthermore, it can achieve data rates >1 Gbps at ranges longer than 25 km through its transmitter design and detector sensitivity. In Phase I, Intellisense successfully demonstrated ALMOND’s ability to support long-range FSOC at >1 Gbps data rates through simulation. Intellisense also developed a prototype that experimentally demonstrated high-speed FSOC and ALMOND’s automatic beam acquisition and tracking subsystem. In Phase II, Intellisense proposes to improve the system by developing a standalone prototype based on the Phase I design that is compatible with Group 3 UAVs and provides 2+ full-duplex FSOC links between moving targets, along with autonomous beam acquisition, tracking, and smooth inter-transceiver beam handoffs over the entire 360 deg x 180 deg FOV, at >25 km ranges. The prototype will also be designed for minimal size, weight, and power consumption to enable it to be contained within a volume of 1 cubic foot and weigh no more than 20 lb, thus ensuring its suitability for integration with UAVs. During the Phase II Option, Intellisense plans to test the ALMOND prototype operating on a Group 3 UAV in land and ship-board environments. Based on these results, Intellisense will develop a transition plan for future productization during Phase III.