Reconfigurable / cognitive optical communications

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms
OBJECTIVE: Develop technologies for a new generation of free-space optical systems that embody the concept of photonic software-defined transceivers, supporting reconfigurability features in direct analogy to radio-frequency-based software-defined / cognitive radios.
DESCRIPTION: In this topic, we seek the development of reconfigurable optical systems with the primary aim of flexible communications applications. In software-defined radio, electronic components, circuits, and functions are rendered from information descriptions, systems whose functions can be reconfigured dynamically leading to: (1) expansion of the repertoire of components in the receive and/or transmit chain that can be made reconfigurable (such as the antenna, front end components, amplifiers) in various ways; (2) extending the concepts of waveforms and applications to take advantage of flexibility; (3) the ability to exploit reconfigurability dynamically (i.e., allowing the definitions to be altered temporally); and (4) exploiting flexibility to allow the radio appliance itself to be extended to other applications, also flexibly and dynamically (i.e., for example as a weather instrument, sensor, radar). We seek creative exploitation of the concepts in reconfigurable systems to create a new class of flexible optical transceivers, optimized for communications, but extensible applications (timing, ranging, metrology, etc.). Consider methodologies for reconfiguring wavelength, modulation, protocols (e.g., methods for altering physical, datalink, network layer implementations under software definition), the shape of aperture/beam, and other characteristics. Our core applications communications, bidirectional signaling between spacecraft (crosslinks) and ground systems. We anticipate perhaps one day all spacecraft will have this functionality, leading to new concepts in communications, timing, sensing, and information convergence on a global scale. We seek fundamental contributions to the software-defined photonic radio. We anticipate the introduction of novel concepts that enable optical-domain reconfiguration (devices, circuits, components, pathways, sub-systems) that can be advantageously exploited in communications applications. We expect conceptual traceability to dynamical reconfigurability that can managed in system (using methods analogous to those in field programmable gate arrays). Especially in communications/network applications, it is important to identify protocols for interoperability that allow the effective negotiation of channel formation / access, as well as security and trust features that eliminate concepts of cybersecurity exploitation as well as embody resilience to the associate links/networks.
PHASE I: Introduce innovative concepts that establish a convincing contribution to reconfigurable / cognitive optical communications. Demonstrate attention to both aspects of designing for reconfigurability and designing with configurability, managing reconfigurable features, and establishing traceability to effective real-world applications. Address the constraints of space systems applications and ties to militarily-relevant applications.
PHASE II: Create a demonstrable and compelling embodiment of the Phase 1 concepts, for example dynamical reconfigurability that can be managed in system (using methods analogous to those in field programmable gate arrays). Especially in communications/network applications, it is important to identify protocols for interoperability.
PHASE III: We encourage partnerships with space system developers and space systems customers, especially for military application, but given the ubiquity of communications and broad interest in exploiting space as the basis for present and new communications architectures, we expect applicability of these concepts to both military and space customers.
REFERENCES: 1: Mitola, J. The software radio architecture,'' IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 26 38, May 1995.2: Lyke, James et.al., "Introduction to Reconfigurable Systems", Proc. IEEE, March 2015.3: "Laser Cross-link Systems and Technology," D.L. Begley, IEEE Communications Magazine, 06 August 2002, pp. 126-132.4: 4. Seregelyi, Joe. "How close is the all-optical transceiver for software-defined radio?.", SPIE Newsroom, 2006 (available online at http://spie.org/documents/newsroom/imported/0057/57_464_0_2006-02-27.pdf as of March 2017)KEYWORDS: Reconfigurable Systems, GPS, Crosslink, Space-based Networks, Data Transfer, Free Space Optical Data Transfer, FSO
CONTACT(S):
Julie Smith
(505) 853-5499
julie.smith.7@us.af.mil