A Neural Network-Based Method for Fast Capture and Tracking of Laser Links between Nonorbiting Platforms

In this paper, a neural network approach is used to conduct an in-depth study and analysis of the fast capture tracking method for laser links between nonorbiting platforms. The experimental platform of the convolutional neural network- (CNN-) based free-space optical communication (FSO) wavefront correction system is built indoors, and the wavefront distortion correction performance of the CNN-based wavefront correction method is investigated. The experimental results show that the coupling power loss can be reduced to small after the CNN method correction under weak and strong turbulence. The accuracy of the above model is verified by comparing the simulation data with the experimentally measured data, thus realizing the coordinate decoupling of the coarse aiming mechanism and weakening the influence of structural factors on the tracking accuracy of the system. The tracking correlation equation of the influence of beam far-field dynamic characteristics on the tracking stability of the link is established, and the correlation factor variance of beam far-field dynamic characteristics is used to provide a quantitative analysis method for the evaluation and prediction of the comprehensive performance of the link tracking stability. The influence of beam divergence angle, wavefront distortion, detector accuracy, and atmospheric turbulence disturbance on the correlation factor variance of beam far-field dynamic characteristics of laser link beacons is modelled, and the link tracking stability optimization method is proposed under the requirement of link tracking accuracy, which provides an effective solution analysis method to realize the improvement of laser link tracking stability.