Abstract:

Modern battlefields present UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) communication systems with a range of challenges related to reliability, security, and signal interference. Traditional radio communication is vulnerable to jamming attacks and is also revealing, making UAVs an easy target for the enemy. Alternative, traditional FSO (Free-Space Optics) communication methods within the line of sight require the use of relatively heavy optical beam guidance mechanisms, which complicates their application in lightweight UAVs [1]. The necessity to search for alternative communication methods led to the development of the described solution, in which the UAV does not emit any radiation and does not require precise control of the light beam. The concept involves illuminating the UAV with a radiation beam from the base station. This beam is then modulated and reflected toward the ground station using a piezoelectric modulator, which operates based on the principle of a moving optical cone with variable geometry. The cone reflects and simultaneously modulates the radiation reaching the UAV. Thanks to this solution, a secure optical data link can be implemented. A key feature of the proposed solution is the absence of its own emission, which is a significant advantage in modern communication systems, along with the ability to easily adjust to the desired wavelength.