Toward a wireless optical communication link between two small unmanned aerial vehicles

A communication system between two autonomous micro air vehicles is proposed. Laser communication offers advantages in range, power, and bandwidth when line of sight is available. Beamsteering is accomplished using gyro-stabilized MEMS micromirrors. A custom CMOS smart-pixel imager implements a 1Mbps receiver, including analog front-end and variable-gain amplifier at each pixel. Algorithms are presented for initial link establishment and maintenance.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: ISCAS
• Authors: Matt Last, Brian S. Leibowitz, Baris Cagdaser, Anand Jog, Lixia Zhou, Bernhard E. Boser, Kristofer S. J. Pister
• Keywords: Autonomous Micro Air, CMOS Smart-pixel Imager, Communication Offers Advantages, ISCAS 2003