Free-space optical communication apparatus and method for controlling free-space optical communication apparatus
A free-space optical communication apparatus includes: a light emission section; an optical phase modulation section; a light reception section; and at least one processor, the at least one processor carrying out: a communication control process of, by causing the light emission section to emit first communication light and causing the light reception section to receive second communication light from a communication counterpart, carrying out free-space optical communication with the communication counterpart; and a measurement control process of measuring a distance to a surrounding object by causing the light emission section to emit pulsed light and causing the light reception section to receive reflected light of the pulsed light.
1 . A free-space optical communication apparatus comprising:
a light emission section configured to emit light;
an optical phase modulation section configured to adjust a direction of the light emitted by the light emission section;
a light reception section configured to receive light from outside; and
at least one processor,
the at least one processor being configured to carry out:
a communication control process comprising, by causing the light emission section to emit first communication light and causing the light reception section to receive second communication light from a communication counterpart, carrying out free-space optical communication with the communication counterpart;
a measurement control process comprising measuring a distance to a surrounding object by causing the light emission section to emit pulsed light and causing the light reception section to receive reflected light of the pulsed light,
wherein the at least one processor is configured to, in the communication control process, by causing the optical phase modulation section to change a first light emission direction of the first communication light, detect the first light emission direction in which free-space optical communication is possible with the communication counterpart,
wherein information indicative of a second light emission direction of the second communication light from the communication counterpart is superimposed on the second communication light, and
wherein in the measurement control process, the at least one processor measures an attitude of the communication counterpart on a basis of the first light emission direction and the second light emission direction.
2 . The free-space optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pulsed light has a light intensity higher than that of the second communication light, and
the at least one processor is configured to carry out a determination process comprising determining whether the light received by the light reception section is the second communication light or the reflected light of the pulsed light on the basis of the light intensity of the light received by the light reception section.
3 . The free-space optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pulsed light differs in frequency or modulation method from the second communication light, and
the at least one processor is configured to carry out a determination process comprising determining whether the light received by the light reception section is the second communication light or the reflected light of the pulsed light on the basis of the frequency of the light received by the light reception section or the modulation method thereof.
4 . The free-space optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to, in the measurement control process, measure a distance to the communication counterpart.
5 . The free-space optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light emission section includes a light source configured to emit the first communication light and a light source configured to emit the pulsed light.
6 . A vehicle comprising a free-space optical communication apparatus according to claim 1 .
7 . A method for controlling a free-space optical communication apparatus, the free-space optical communication apparatus comprising:
a light emission section configured to emit light;
an optical phase modulation section configured to adjust a direction of the light emitted by the light emission section; and
a light reception section configured to receive light from outside, the method comprising:
a communication control process comprising, by causing the light emission section to emit first communication light to a first adjusted direction and causing the light reception section to receive second communication light from a communication counterpart, carrying out free-space optical communication with the communication counterpart; and
a measurement control process comprising measuring a distance to a surrounding object by causing the light emission section to emit pulsed light to a second adjusted direction and causing the light reception section to receive reflected light of the pulsed light,
wherein, in the communication control process, by causing the optical phase modulation section to change a first light emission direction of the first communication light, detecting the first light emission direction in which free-space optical communication is possible with the communication counterpart,
wherein information indicative of a second light emission direction of the second communication light from the communication counterpart is superimposed on the second communication light, and
wherein in the measurement control process, an attitude of the communication counterpart is measured on a basis of the first light emission direction and the second light emission direction.