Control system analysis for ground/air-to-air laser communications using simulation

Laser communication using free-space optics is an important element of the proposed US Department of Defense (DoD) Transformational Communication System. It offers data rates on the order of several Gigabits per second, resists electromagnetic jamming and interference, and enjoys low probability of intercept and detection. This paper describes an investigation, carried out using a computer simulation, to analyze the performance of the laser beam steering control system consisting of two gimbals, a fast steering mirror, the Global Positioning System (GPS), and attitude sensors. Two different application scenarios were simulated: ground-to-air and air-to-air. The simulation evaluated several control system parameters such as pointing accuracy, tracking capabilities and bandwidth requirements. The results of the simulation elucidated the impact of the system bandwidth on the performance and functionality of the ground or air-to-air laser communication system. The results also showed close correlation between pointing and tracking error with the uncertainties of the system due to GPS and attitude sensor measurements.