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2010 Olin Project Idea

2010 Olin Project Idea. Keith Gendreau Keith.c.gendreau@nasa.gov 301-286-6188 Jeff Livas Jeffrey.livas@nasa.gov 301-286-7289. “Solar Jujutsu” Communications.

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2010 Olin Project Idea

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  1. 2010 Olin Project Idea Keith Gendreau Keith.c.gendreau@nasa.gov 301-286-6188 Jeff Livas Jeffrey.livas@nasa.gov 301-286-7289

  2. “Solar Jujutsu” Communications • Jutjutsu – literally the “way of yielding”, is a martial art style that uses the principle of using an attacker’s energy against him/her, rather than directly opposing it • In this context – try to exploit sunlight or light from another source for communications

  3. “Solar Jujutsu” Communications • Key idea: • Can we make a low power data transmitter to send “lots” of data from the moon to the earth using a 19th century idea enhanced with 21st century technology? • Applications • Data downlink for a sensor on the moon • 2-way link from a satellite using a cube-corner reflector painted by a laser from the ground or another, larger satellite

  4. “Solar Jujutsu” Communications (cont) Power Source: Solar constant = 1,367,700 mW/m2 coming at you Visible! Wavelength (microns)

  5. “Prior Art”

  6. Replace this guy with a photoreceiver and an ethernet port.. Replace this guy with a high speed optical modulator and an ethernet port.

  7. Replacing the guy wiggling the mirror • Computer monitor (simple and available) • Use simple patterns (“symbol”) to send many bits at a time • 2 x 2 “Checkerboard” at 1 Hz  24 rate multiplier • This rate multiplication is almost “free” (very low cost) • Can investigate other options: • Voltage Controlled LCD displays (KHz Speeds?) (for example slide displays) • Acoustic Optical Modulators (speeds up to 100 MHz)

  8. Replacing the guy using his eye to see the signal on the receive end • Webcam (slow, but simple) • Receive patterns and convert back to bits • Eventually a segmented photodiode? • Quad cell • Linear array

  9. Simplified Block Diagram Mirror or optics (collection area sets Transmitter power) Computer with Olin Student software that prepares the test pattern for transmission, encodes it into a pattern for the monitor, decodes the received pattern, and compares received to transmitted. Ideally produces a BER Computer monitor Sun (or lamp) cable Earth to Moon (“link”) simulator cable Webcam

  10. Project Summary • Build a “Heliostat” to capture the sun • Optional: start with a lamp or a mirror • Bounce the light off a spatial light modulator (SLM) • Use a computer monitor to start (find one that works well in reflection • May need some simple optics or telescope • Implement a simple modulator/encoder to drive the SLM • Use a webcam to receive • May need some simple optics or telescope • Implement a simple demodulator to retrieve data • Predict link performance and compare to Laser Comm.

  11. Optical Communications With an optical link it is natural to use it for communications in addition to ranging. Potentially higher capacity over large distances than RF communications. Several methods currently under development at GSFC.

  12. There should benefits compared to Laser Comm • Part of project is to Quantify Benefits • How does such a system compare to RF communication? • How does such a system compare to laser communication? • Total Power Efficiency • Lasers are ~10% efficient on producing optical output from electricity it gathers from ~25% efficient solar cells. • Total efficiency from sun = 0.25 * 0.1 = 2.5% • Mirrors are ~90% reflective • Etc.

  13. Other factors in comparison • Angular sensitivity • Narrow beam (optical vs RF) means more efficient energy transfer • BUT more precise pointing requirements • Corner cube finesses alignment to some extent • Mass to moon • Do solar cells and power system with Laser weigh more than a mirror and heliostat? • Reliability • Solar panels, motors, AOMs… • Is dust an issue?

  14. Success means: • A proof of concept demonstration of data transmission using an external light source • Start with a webcam looking at a monitor • Estimate of possible performance and benefits over more traditional systems • Focus on efficiency and pointing issues • Look at supported Data rate • range • Other criteria as possible: power, mass, volume

  15. Possible Additional Analysis • 1) quantitative link budget analysis - sensitivity, noise sources, etc • 2) comparison with laser-based syste • 3) Bit-error-rate performance testing • 4) error correction coding • 5) laser ranging (= time of flight measurements)

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