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ViaLight - Miniaturized Laser Terminals MLT for Constellations
17th Oct. 2016
Dr. Markus Knapek
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Laser Communication at ViaLight
Optical Network above the Clouds
• Data rates up to 10Gbps (one color!)
• Low SWaP, <15kg
• Competitive price per terminal
Today’s Business at ViaLight
• Stratospheric inter-platform links with large commercial customers
• Industrial manufacturing approach for larger series
• Path towards large constellations of small satellites
Inter-HAP
Inter-Sat
LEO-Ground
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Today’s Constellations: Stratospheric Communciation Players
July 2016
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Laser Communication for the NewSpace Market
Communication: • Kaskilo • LeoSat • SpaceX • OneWeb • Laser Light
Earth Observation • TerraBella • PlanetLabs • BlackSky • UrtheCast
• Need inexpensive solutions to make ambitious, innovative business models work • Rather industrial than traditional space manufacturing approach
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MLT-20 - Short-Distance Links
High-Speed Network-Oriented Solutions
Application Scenarios
• Inter-aircraft IPL, Inter-High Altitude Platforms (HAP), Air-to-Ground (ATG)
Characteristics
• Link distance >200km
• 70mm aperture
• Up to 10Gbps
• Weight <5-10kg
Application Scenarios
• Platform to ground links
• Inter-UAV at short distances
Characteristics
• Link distance up to 50km
• 20mm terminal
• Weight 5-10kg
• 1-10Gbps
MLT-70 – Stratospheric Systems GS-200/400/600 Ground
Stations
Application Scenarios
• Air-to-ground
• Satellite-to-ground
Characteristics
• 200-600mm station aperture
• Bi-directional or asym-metric communication at up to 10Gbps
Application Scenarios
• LEO-to-LEO (ISL)
• LEO-to-Ground/Aircraft
Characteristics
• Link distances up to 5300km
• 100mm aperture
• Up to 10Gbps
• Weight <15kg, Power <60W
MLT-LEO – Inter-Satellite
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Proof of Concept under Extreme Test Conditions ViaLight MLT-20 on a Jet-Fighter Platform
Secure link despite: • Poor weather conditions • 750km/h, 7km altitude, 60km range • Extreme shocks with afterburner
Foto: J. Gietl 2013 @ Cassidian ViaLight MLT-20
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Aeronautic Laser Terminal for Inter-Platform Links
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Coarse Pointing
CPA
Telescope TLA
RFE, CTS, FTS
PAA & FPA Assembly
PFA FPA, PAA
Laser Unit LU
EPS
Terminal Control
Computer TCC
Electronics Unit EU
Laser Transceiver
LET
Optical Bench OB
Receiver & Sensor
Assly RSA
Modular Concept for Effective Production
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Exploitation is the Challenge
Laser terminals have been proven in various scenarios.
What do we need for larger/future networks based on lasers? • Different scenarios with very different requirements
Distance 2500km for LEO SGL, 5.000-8.000km LEO-LEO, 40.000km for LEO GEO, 80.000km GEO2GEO
Atmospheric and non-atmospheric links, different coding types Different types of certification and quality standards for the terminals (ground, air,
space, commercial vs. military)
• Network operation with nodes of different types (GEO, LEO, HAPs, faster aircraft, ground stations) Managing high bandwidth, hybrid networks Dynamically changing network topology, autonomous algorithms, network layer
• No international standards for wireless lasercoms compatibility
• Coping with different speeds in the different networks (ground, air, space) – fiber, FSO, RF, terrestrial networks
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