Timing Synchronization among UAVs Swarm via Quantum-Well Modulating Retroreflecting Optical Communication for Distributed Interferometric Antenna

Jeremy Schumacher, Subrahmanya V. Bhide, and Lin Yi

Abstract: The paper presents a timing synchronization algorithm and an associated mission concept to use a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to form a large distributed interferometric antenna in the frequency range of 0.1 to 2GHz. The algorithm is customized to passive optical communications between multiple ground laser interrogating terminals and the UAVs with stepped quantum-well modulating retroreflecting devices. The mission concept allows a large number of UAVs to be used as distributed interferometric nodes and identified (via different local modulating frequencies) by a small number of ground terminals, eliminating the complexity of a large number of one-on-one optical links in this scenario. We presented the precision position and attitude determination methodology of the UAV by mounting several quantum-well devices on a single UAV with a series of optical aperture designs, ranging from 6-face to 60-face configurations. With the currently designed 0.1m dimension of the full optical aperture, with the 60-face design, the geometric introduced positioning error is as low as 2.3 micrometers (76fs in timing). We presented the analytic result of the receiving communication data rate allowable with the distributed antenna by different optical aperture designs. Our mission concept involves forming a low-cost, fast-implementation large communication antenna using UAVs and a few laser ground terminals. At the operating frequency range of 0.1 to 2GHz, it is challenging to directly use GNSS signal to provide real-time feedback and data processing of such interferometric antenna. Taking advantage of the fast advances of quantum-well modulating retroreflecting with very low power consumption, such implementation is promising and may have wide applications. One example is emergency communication in natural disasters that lack basic communication infrastructure.
Published in: Proceedings of the 55th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting
January 22 - 25, 2024
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Pages: 117 - 126
Cite this article: Schumacher, Jeremy, Bhide, Subrahmanya V., Yi, Lin, "Timing Synchronization among UAVs Swarm via Quantum-Well Modulating Retroreflecting Optical Communication for Distributed Interferometric Antenna," Proceedings of the 55th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting, Long Beach, California, January 2024, pp. 117-126. https://doi.org/10.33012/2024.19585
Full Paper: ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit
Sign In