Abstract:

Wireless Sensing (WS) using Free-Space Optics

(FSO) is an evolving technology that has several applications

in diverse Cyber-Physical Systems. FSO communication has

several advantages over conventional wireless communication

such as avoiding typical radio interference faced by conventional

wireless communication links, no or low-cost spectrum license

fees, depending on the countries’ regulations, and being easy

and fast to deploy, especially in critical conditions such those

encountered in defence applications and scenarios. In addition,

since FSO requires a line-of-sight communication link between

the transmitter and the receiver, it can be used to achieve

long-distance communication links while being secured. In this

paper, an experimental testbed utilizing off-the-shelf hardware

component and open-source software tools is described and used

to evaluate FSO network communication technology. Further, the

theoretical analysis for an FSO system is provided. Such a testbed

can be used to advance research in FSO and enable researchers

to assess FSO performance under different network conditions

and scenarios.