Optical Communication Link Assessment Utilizing a Modulated Retro-Reflector on Mars

[摘要] This work proposes the duplexing of an optical free-space (FS) communication link while minimizing the required power and complexity by using a modulated retro-reflector (MRR) within a system that is shown for a Mars orbiter and rover scenario. The MRR is placed on a planet’s surface while the laser source is on the orbiter to achieve satellite communications with surface locations. The information, which varies from raw sensor data to multimedia files such as videos and other media, can be sent through this communication path. Due to the use of an MRR, an alternative modulating scheme is required to interpret a distorted signal. The arrangement suggested to prove the capabilities of the link is a nested pulse-position modulation (PPM) structure. A link budget was derived to show the link characteristics of this proposed system.

[发布日期] 2018-11-01

[学科分类] 工程和技术（综合）

[关键词] OPTICAL COMMUNICATION;RETROREFLECTORS;MODULATION;PULSE POSITION MODULATION;MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER;BIT ERROR RATE;MARS SURFACE;ROVING VEHICLES