Free Space Optical (FSO) wireless data links are attractive alternatives to RF communications. This technology could enable vision around corners or barriers, and allow covert, secure, and wireless distribution of scope images to other squad helmet mounted displays (HMDs), with minimal additional hardware to the current equipment. A major design challenge for FSO links in personnel applications is ensuring line of sight (LoS) between transmitter and receiver. This work captures warfighter helmet and gun movement using video motion tracking in a typical application for FSO data links. A method to simulate transmitter and receiver on the warfighter helmet and gun scope and analyze LoS and FOV is presented. This method allows optimization of FSO data link placement and provides requirements for future FSO technology. The initial results suggest that to meet 100% of the threshold requirements, the vertical FOV of a receiver must be 80° and the horizontal FOV must be 60° and oriented 10° in pitch and -7.5° in yaw. Simulating a FSO link with horizontal and vertical FOV of 60° shows expected performance using a visual method from a helmet mounted camera. Additionally, the FOV of the transmitter and receiver can be visualized with arbitrary FOV, position, and orientation.

Date Published: 29 May 2013
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 8752, Modeling and Simulation for Defense Systems and Applications VIII, 875208 (29 May 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2016134

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8752:
Modeling and Simulation for Defense Systems and Applications VIII
Eric J. Kelmelis, Editor(s)