Optical Wireless & Free-Space Communication

Foundations of free-space optical (FSO) links: how data rides on light beams through the atmosphere, the key system building blocks, and the advantages and challenges versus RF.

• Engineers and researchers working in optical wireless communication, free-space optics (FSO), and next-generation communication systems
• System designers, solution architects, and developers interested in implementing optical wireless technologies
• Graduate and postgraduate students specializing in optics, photonics, communication engineering, and aerospace systems
• Academic staff involved in research and teaching in areas related to optical communications, wireless technologies, and photonics
• Professionals working on satellite communications, UAV communication systems, and terrestrial optical wireless networks
• Scientists and R&D specialists in telecommunications, aerospace, and defense industries
• Technology strategists exploring high-capacity, high-security alternatives to traditional RF wireless systems

• Introduction to Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) - Differences between RF and Optical systems - Advantages and challenges of OWC
• Free-Space Optical (FSO) Communication Basics - Beam propagation principles - Modulation techniques in FSO
• Channel Impairments and Mitigation - Atmospheric turbulence and its effects - Beam divergence and pointing errors - Attenuation factors (fog, rain, snow, dust)
• System Design Fundamentals - Transmitter and receiver technologies - Optical detectors and front-end optics - Alignment, tracking, and acquisition
• Performance Metrics and Link Budget Analysis - Received power, SNR, BER, link margin - Practical link budget calculation examples
• Advanced Topics and Trends - Hybrid RF/Optical Systems - Machine learning in optical link management - Integration with satellites and HAPS
• Applications - Last-mile communication - Inter-building links - Deep-space optical communication

• Copy of the presentation slides (PDF)
• Downloadable video recording of the sessions (valid for 60 days)

⚠️ Important: The video is licensed for personal use only. Redistribution, sharing, or public posting of the course video is strictly prohibited.

* Session 1: 2.5 hours - Introduction to Optical Wireless Communication - Fundamentals of Free-Space Optics (FSO) - Atmospheric Channel Characteristics * Session 2: 2.5 hours - System Components and Link Design - Link Budget and Performanc