Telecommunications

Shooting planes with lasers makes for better comms

Shooting planes with lasers makes for better comms
The Hyperion ground laser station, in its current form
The Hyperion ground laser station, in its current form
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A diagram of the Hyperion system
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A diagram of the Hyperion system
Inside the Hyperion ground station
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Inside the Hyperion ground station
The Hyperion ground laser station, in its current form
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The Hyperion ground laser station, in its current form
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Whether they're flying over battlefields, disaster sites or search-and-rescue operations, aircraft can prove to be a valuable "eye in the sky" for ground crews. Usually, data is transmitted from those planes using radio signals. Such signals can be jammed or intercepted, however, plus bandwidth limitations put a damper on just how much data can be sent. That's why scientists from the University of Oxford and Airbus Group Innovations are now using lasers instead.

The system is known as Hyperion, and here's how it works …

A ground-based eye-safe optical laser automatically tracks a manned or unmanned aircraft passing overhead, focusing its beam on a device on the vehicle's underside. Called a Modulated Retro Reflector (MRR), this device modulates the reflected laser light, turning it into an optical code that transmits large amounts of encrypted data from the aircarft back to the ground crew. They in turn decode the message.

Currently the system is limited to a range of 1 km (0.6 mile), although work to improve this figure is ongoing. And yes, it might be simpler to just have a laser in the aircraft, although the equipment can be quite heavy – this is particularly an issue with small drones, in which every gram counts.

Hyperion has already been successfully tested using a drone, and may even one day be used to receive data from low-orbit satellites. It is hoped to be in commercial use within three to five years.

Sources: EPSRC, Hyperion Project

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3 comments
3 comments
RonEfrati
1. It requires direct line of sight 2. Does not work in foggy condition. 3. NASA already developed and test such system for satellite Already tested on the ISS.
Mel Tisdale
I wonder if it is possible to apply parts of this technology to other aircraft so that anyone aiming a laser at them can reflect the beam back at the laser's operator (and serve them right). As I understand it, some pilots have suffered eye damage as a result of their aircraft being targeted by illegal, but readily available, high power lasers. How long before a serious incident occurs? (Not to belittle what is already happening.) All things considered it would promote the reporting of any illegal laser operators.
Mel Tisdale
I wonder if it is possible to apply parts of this technology to other aircraft so that anyone aiming a laser at them can reflect the beam back at the laser's operator (and serve them right). As I understand it, some pilots have suffered eye damage as a result of their aircraft being targeted by illegal, but readily available, high power lasers. How long before a serious incident occurs? (Not to belittle what is already happening.) All things considered it would promote the reporting of any illegal laser operators.