AOptix Technologies Continues Lasercom Flight Tests for Air Force Research Laboratory

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--AOptix Technologies, Inc., (AOptix) (www.aoptix.com) a leading edge developer of ultra-high bandwidth laser communication solutions, disclosed today the successful completion of the second in a series of three flight tests being performed for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The three phase program is demonstrating the key technical elements required for an ultra-high bandwidth air-to-ground laser communications system.

“This new capability will enable the persistent downlinking of ultra-high bandwidth ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) information from various manned and un-manned airborne platforms”

Covering an effective ground area of over 15,000 square kilometers, the single bi-directional, 3 Gbps multi-channel data link transmitted simultaneous uncompressed high-definition (HD) video, audio and gigabit Ethernet. The recent demonstrations quantified end-to-end link performance over various spatial geometries, altitudes, and ground terminal positions while maintaining a low power, eye safe communications link. This technology has enabled AOptix to demonstrate air to ground ultra-high bandwidth links greater than 70 kilometers flying at 10,000 feet and mountain top to mountain top links in excess of 150 kilometers.

“This new capability will enable the persistent downlinking of ultra-high bandwidth ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) information from various manned and un-manned airborne platforms,” says Dean Senner, President and CEO of AOptix Technologies. “Integrating our lasercom terminals into the Wescam MX-15 Skyball hardware has ushered in a new era of ultra-high data rate communications between airborne platforms and the ground.”

The AOptix wireless optical terminals utilize a unique bi-directional, adaptive optics method of beam control to compensate for real-time atmospheric turbulence while maintaining lock between two terminals. Video, voice and data is transmitted through the air over a single invisible, low power, eye-safe, free-space optical laser link.

AOptix Technologies will be conducting the next phase of the flight test program this summer. The third flight test will fly at increased altitudes to demonstrate significantly longer air to ground links, dramatically increasing the effective ground coverage area.

About the company

AOptix Technologies is a privately funded company founded in 2000. With core technology expertise in the application of advanced adaptive optics, they develop free space optical communications and iris biometrics based identification solutions for both government and commercial markets. For additional information, please see www.aoptix.com.