Laser System Set To Revolutionize Future Aircraft, Satellite Data Links (thestack.com)

An anonymous reader writes: A new laser system, dubbed HYPERION, promises to improve the transmission of data from aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and orbiting satellites to ground stations. The optical system, developed by a team of Innovate UK researchers, has been designed to send critical information more securely, rapidly and efficiently than traditional radio frequency (RF) methods. Suggested applications for HYPERION include helping UAVs involved in disaster monitoring and other humanitarian projects to quickly offload detailed data back to the ground for analysis. The system could also be applied in future airline systems to transmit vast amounts of technical data collected by on-board sensors to ground stations — a process which could help speed up maintenance procedures and significantly cut turnaround times.

Comments

Unforseen delays

[Anonymous Coward]

System development was delayed recently when developers were put in jail for shining lasers at flying aircraft. More at 11...

Re:Unforseen delays

[PPH]

There could be some other unforeseen consequences

Loss of line of sight?

[Tighe_L]

Does it fall back to RF?

Lasers at planes == bad or != bad

[RichMan]

I thought pointing lasers at planes was bad and would get you arrested. Is it good now?

Sure lasers are a fine transmission medium but they also affect the human eye, so generally not so good for the open air.

Re:Lasers at planes == bad or != bad

[Nutria]

And laser light also gets absorbed by water, smoke, dust, etc in the atmosphere.

Re:Short-range only?

[LeadSongDog]

So ranges greater then a few thousand meters can only be realized in extremely clear weather?

In space, the weather is usually clear.