A software defined free space optics (SD-FSO) platform based on an analog optical frontend

In this concept paper a Free Space Optics (FSO) system based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) technique is being introduced. A hardware platform to implement FSO-Systems which are based on directly modulated light sources and analog optical links has been defined and the major advantages of the software defined architecture were outlined. The software defined radio architecture, when translated to the hardware design of FSO systems, would allow the flexibility of adapting the system to varying weather conditions, thereby increasing the link availability and reliability and hopefully allowing mass deployment.