SODSys: Solar Optical Data Transfer System

Present methods of space-bound communication require laser modulation, a power hungry process that can consume a significant portion of a system’s power budget. This study investigates the feasibility and characterizing metrics of a communication system which modulates sunlight. Two such proof-of-concept systems were built. The first used an unmodified monitor and webcam. It acheived a maximum speed of 20 bits per second; the limiting component was the detector (webcam). The second used a hacked monitor to allow the use of an external light source (a sun analog) and a laboratory photodetector. It acheived a maximum speed of 7.5 bits per second; the limiting factor was the monitor, a limit we feel is shallow.