Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication

This paper proposes a systematic ground experimental method to address the insufficient initial pointing accuracy of optical terminals in free space optical communication (FSO). By utilizing a multi-coordinate system transformation model combined with geodetic coordinates obtained from a Global Navi...

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Main Authors: Yuang Li, Xuan Wang, Junfeng Han, Xinxin Quan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/7/706
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author Yuang Li
Xuan Wang
Junfeng Han
Xinxin Quan
author_facet Yuang Li
Xuan Wang
Junfeng Han
Xinxin Quan
author_sort Yuang Li
collection DOAJ
description This paper proposes a systematic ground experimental method to address the insufficient initial pointing accuracy of optical terminals in free space optical communication (FSO). By utilizing a multi-coordinate system transformation model combined with geodetic coordinates obtained from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), the elevation and azimuth angles of the optical terminal are calculated to achieve initial pointing. High-precision horizontal installation and true north direction calibration are accomplished using a GNSS dual-antenna system and a digital inclinometer to suppress mechanical installation errors. Furthermore, an iterative stellar calibration method is proposed, leveraging ephemeris to precompute stellar positions and optimize correction values through multiple observations, significantly improving pointing accuracy. In a 104.68 km span experiment conducted in the Qinghai Lake area, the azimuth and elevation angle errors of the optical terminal were reduced to −0.0293° and −0.0068°, respectively, with the uncertainty region narrowed to 0.0586°. These results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in high-precision rapid link establishment, providing technical support for the engineering application of satellite-to-ground laser communication.
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issn 2304-6732
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
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spelling doaj-art-15a4887bd8df4a589d04f4d400789dc62025-08-20T02:47:21ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-07-0112770610.3390/photonics12070706Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser CommunicationYuang Li0Xuan Wang1Junfeng Han2Xinxin Quan3Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710119, ChinaXi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710119, ChinaXi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710119, ChinaXi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710119, ChinaThis paper proposes a systematic ground experimental method to address the insufficient initial pointing accuracy of optical terminals in free space optical communication (FSO). By utilizing a multi-coordinate system transformation model combined with geodetic coordinates obtained from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), the elevation and azimuth angles of the optical terminal are calculated to achieve initial pointing. High-precision horizontal installation and true north direction calibration are accomplished using a GNSS dual-antenna system and a digital inclinometer to suppress mechanical installation errors. Furthermore, an iterative stellar calibration method is proposed, leveraging ephemeris to precompute stellar positions and optimize correction values through multiple observations, significantly improving pointing accuracy. In a 104.68 km span experiment conducted in the Qinghai Lake area, the azimuth and elevation angle errors of the optical terminal were reduced to −0.0293° and −0.0068°, respectively, with the uncertainty region narrowed to 0.0586°. These results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in high-precision rapid link establishment, providing technical support for the engineering application of satellite-to-ground laser communication.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/7/706laser communicationinitial pointingcoordinate transformationstellar calibration
spellingShingle Yuang Li
Xuan Wang
Junfeng Han
Xinxin Quan
Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication
Photonics
laser communication
initial pointing
coordinate transformation
stellar calibration
title Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication
title_full Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication
title_fullStr Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication
title_full_unstemmed Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication
title_short Research on High-Precision Initial Pointing for Near-Earth Laser Communication
title_sort research on high precision initial pointing for near earth laser communication
topic laser communication
initial pointing
coordinate transformation
stellar calibration
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/7/706
work_keys_str_mv AT yuangli researchonhighprecisioninitialpointingfornearearthlasercommunication
AT xuanwang researchonhighprecisioninitialpointingfornearearthlasercommunication
AT junfenghan researchonhighprecisioninitialpointingfornearearthlasercommunication
AT xinxinquan researchonhighprecisioninitialpointingfornearearthlasercommunication