Optical wireless communication links with transmission and bandwidth properties vary the same as that of conventional fiber links that can be installed at 1/10th of the cost of the latter. This means OWC links can be the new face of cost-effective network infra-structure, which can conveniently converge between backbone networks and end-users. OWC links are, however, extremely vulnerable to atmospheric adversities, which can deplete the transmission quality and operational link range. Although various mitigation strategies like spatial diversity, relay transmission, and coherent detection have been proposed in the past, each of them possesses certain inherent limitations, which ultimately prohibits large-scale deployment.

Chapter Contents:

• 10.1 Introduction
• 10.2 Overview of optical wireless communication systems
• 10.2.1 Resurgence of OWC/OWC systems
• 10.2.2 Pros and cons of OWC links over RF systems
• 10.2.3 Block diagram of a free-space optical communication link
• 10.2.4 Atmospheric effects on OWC channel
• 10.2.5 Strategies to limit the impact of atmospheric turbulence
• 10.3 Introduction to artificial intelligence
• 10.3.1 Role of AI in shaping our lifestyles
• 10.3.2 Use of AI techniques in network management
• 10.3.3 Applications of AI techniques for OWC links
• 10.3.3.1 Optical transmitters
• 10.3.3.2 Optical amplification using erbium-doped fiber amplifier
• 10.3.3.3 Performance observation
• 10.3.3.4 Intelligent receiver for loss mitigation
• 10.4 AI for optical links: opportunities and challenges
• 10.5 Summary
• References

Inspec keywords: artificial intelligence; free-space optical communication

Other keywords: artificial intelligence-enabled optical wireless communication links; OWC links

Subjects: Free-space optical links