1. Liz Hyde San Jose State University
Combining Laser Communications and Power Beaming for use on Planetary Probes
Liz Hyde
San Jose State University

2. Agenda Introduction Improvements Proving the Technology Conclusions
Current issues for Planetary Probes: Communications and Power
Solutions: Laser Communications and Power Beaming
Improvements
Combine two units into one!
Proving the Technology
CubeSat-based Technology Demonstration Mission
Conclusions

3. Introduction: Current Issues
Communications
Power
Increased data package size requires improvements in data rate
Alternative communication methods desired as to not congest RF bands
New developments in sensor technology increase the need of high-voltage power
Solar power is unreliable at distances >1.5 AU
Valuable data can be lost while probes are in eclipse

4. Solutions

5. Solution: Power and Comms Waystation

6. A Solution: Laser Communications
Laser Communications can increase data rate 100-1,000x that of traditional RF radios.
Technology has been tested in space (LRO, LADEE [2013])
Technology also being used on the ground for military applications (Ship-to-Ship, UAV-to-Ground)

7. Laser Comms: How it Works
10010
11001
01010
Digital Data
Laser
Photovoltaic
Cells
Decoder
*Think of Morse Code, transmitted by laser!

8. A Solution: Laser Power Beaming
Wireless power transfer idea has been around since 1950’s
Technology also applies to Space-to-Ground and Ground-to-Space applications
Space-to-Space demonstration in 2005 (JAXA/ESA)

9. Laser Power Beaming: How it Works

10. Bonus Improvement: Integrate Comms and Power Systems
Laser Communications and Laser Power have one big thing in common: the Laser!
A laser suited for Communications would also be suited for Power Beaming
Using one laser for multiple purposes saves on mass and volume.

11. Technology Demonstration

12. How To Demonstrate the Technology? CubeSats!
CubeSats have been used to for low-cost, fast-schedule technology demonstration missions
Using heritage equipment focuses development on payloads

13. Demo Mission: The Satellites
Pitcher
Catcher
Payload contains the Laser that will transmit both data and electrical power
Avionics based off of previously flown designs (TechEdSat)
Data is pre-loaded packets consisting of sample images (high-res images, sensor data, etc)
Payload consists of a deployable “target” photovoltaic array
Included is the data and power decoding unit
Avionics based off of previously flown designs (TechEdSat)
Data transmitted to the ground using traditional RF means

14. Demo Mission: The Satellites
Pitcher
Catcher

15. Demo Mission: The Satellites
Pitcher
Catcher

16. Conclusions

17. Conclusions
Both Laser Communications and Laser Power Beaming provide benefits for space probes
An added benefit to these technologies is the ability to have one unit preforming multiple tasks
Testing this technology with CubeSats may pave the way to larger usage of the technology

18. Acknowledgements Dr. Periklis Papadopolus James Grady Marcus Murbach
San Jose State University
James Grady
Global Enterprise Initiative Inc.
Marcus Murbach
NASA Ames Research Center

19. Thanks for your interest! Liz.L.Hyde@gmail.com
Questions?
Thanks for your interest!

20. Back-up slides

21. End to End Efficiancy

22. Aiming Error
Beam Diameter = 1.5m
Target Panel Area = 0.3 x 0.3 m

23. Beam Divergance ϑ = Divergence angle
dbeam = Diameter of beam at the target
L = Separation distance
dbeam ϑ L
dbeam=2Ltan(ϑ/2)