Prototyping Multi-Transceiver Free-Space Optical Communication Structures

Wireless networking has conventionally been realized via radio frequency (RF) based communication technologies. However, the capacity of these networks are limited by the availability of the RF spectrum. Free-Space-Optical (FSO) communication has the potential to deliver wireless communication links at optical-level speeds. Although it has the advantage of high-speed modulation, maintenance of line-of-sight (LOS) between transceivers during an on-going transmission is an important issue since FSO transmitters are highly directional. In this paper, we present a prototype implementation of such multi-transceiver electronically-steered communication structures. Our prototype uses a simple LOS detection and establishment protocol and assigns logical data streams to appropriate physical links.We show that by using multiple directional transceivers we can maintain optical wireless links with minimal disruptions that are caused by relative mobility of communicating nodes.