Optical Communication Empowers the Drone Domain

The use of optical communication in drones essentially involves replacing or supplementing radio frequency (RF) signals with optical signals to pursue ultimate bandwidth, security, and reliability.

1. Tethered Fiber Optic Communication (Wired)

2. Drone-mounted Laser Relay (Wireless)

Real-World Application Cases

1. The "Electronic Warfare Game-Changer" on the Battlefield: Both Ukraine and Russia are extensively using tethered fiber-optic FPV drones on the battlefield. These drones maintain stable control, transmit high-definition video feeds back to the operator, and achieve precise strikes on armored targets even in intense electromagnetic interference environments.

2. "Aerial Base Station" for Emergency Communications: Southeast University and the Purple Mountain Laboratories have successfully trialed a "wireless optical communication + drone-mounted 5G base station" system. This system uses lasers instead of fiber optic cables to deliver high-speed 5G signals to ground users.

3. Urban "Sky Eye": In security operations for large-scale events, tethered drones can hover for extended periods. They utilize 8K cameras to transmit real-time, high-definition video with low latency directly back to the command center.

Summary

The tethered fiber solution pursues absolute reliability, while the wireless laser solution pursues high speed and flexibility. Together, they provide indispensable communication guarantees for drones executing high-value missions in critical fields such as military, emergency response, and security.