Postgraduate research opportunities Free space optics for flying platforms
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Monday 8 January 2024
- Deadline: Sunday 31 March 2024
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 3.5 years
Overview
This project aims to develop a resilient Free-Space Optical (FSO) system to facilitate high-speed reliable communication between earth stations and flying platforms for 6G applications. The research will consider pointing errors and atmospheric effects, aiming to establish a reliable predictive model-based solution for tracking the flying platform and develop a robust multi-beam laser system for beam steering for reliable communication and effective mitigation of the atmospheric effect.Eligibility
To enter our PhD programme, candidates require an upper-second or first-class BSc Honours degree, or a Masters qualification of equal or higher standard, in Physics, Engineering or a related discipline. The candidate must have a strong background in physics, mathematics, and digital communication systems. If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of at least 6.5 with no component below 5.5.
Project Details
This is a chance to expand on the ‘project summary’ field with more in-depth information about the opportunity.
The Non-terrestrial Network (NTN) will become an integral component of the next generation to provide wider coverage including remote areas and featured in recent 5G 3GPP release. High-altitude platform stations (HAPS) and flying drones can serve as key platforms for enabling NTN. Free-space optical Communication (FSOC) through highly collimated laser beams can facilitate high-speed communication between flying platforms and stationary stations. However, providing reliable FSO connectivity to mobile terminals presents significant challenges. The precise and continuous tracking required by narrow-beam FSO demands resilience against pointing errors, tilting, and adaptability to changing atmospheric conditions. Using precise tracking, path planning and beam-steering in conjunction with advanced signal processing, this study aims to design a robust high-speed FSO system for flying platforms that are capable of withstanding adverse atmospheric conditions, mobility, tilting, and misalignment.
Institute of Photonics: The Institute of Photonics (IoP), part of the Department of Physics, is a centre of excellence in applications-oriented research at the University of Strathclyde. The Institute’s key objective is to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications and development in the area of photonics. The IoP is located in the £100M Technology and Innovation Centre on Strathclyde’s Glasgow city centre campus, at the heart of Glasgow’s Innovation District, where it is co-located with the UK’s first Fraunhofer Research Centre. Researchers at the IoP are active in a broad range of photonics fields under the areas of Photonic Devices, Advanced Lasers and Neurophotonics.
Strathclyde Physics is a member of SUPA, the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance.
The University of Strathclyde has, in recent years, been the recipient of the following awards: The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education 2019, 2021 & 2023; Times Higher Education University of the Year 2012 & 2019; Daily Mail University of the Year 2024 Runner-Up; Daily Mail Scottish University of the Year 2024; Triple E European Entrepreneurial University of the Year 2023.
Apply
How to apply: Applicants should send an up-to-date CV to iop@strath.ac.uk in the first instance.
Number of places: 1
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