Design and performance measuring of an outdoor optical communication system using the OWC channel for a UAV network

Abstract

Optical Wireless Communication (or OWC) and Free Space Optics (or FSO) are sophisticated methods for transmitting data at fast speeds and large bandwidths. However, these technologies encounter obstacles associated with atmospheric conditions (such as fog, rain, and haze) that might weaken signals. These situations can elevate bit error rates and diminish transmission distances. This project aims to analyze and create a design for an outdoor optical communication system that utilizes an OWC channel for a network of unmanned aerial vehicles (or UAVs) under different weather situations. What sets this research apart is the innovative use of adaptive techniques that utilize forward, backward, and bidirectional EDFA (or Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier) topologies to adjust for these atmospheric conditions. To assess the performance of the proposed system, the Bit Error Rate (or BER) measure is set at 1e-03 to determine acceptable circumstances. In addition, the constellation diagram can provide us with a visual representation to analyze the system's performance.