Domestic Technology Developed for Optical Switch Enabling Optical Communication in Space

Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology Research Team

A research team at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) developed an optical switch capable of communication even in space. From the left in the photo: Professor Sangyun Han, Department of Robotics, PhD student Dongwook Kim, and undergraduate student Myungseok Hong. Photo by DGIST

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Domestic researchers have developed an optical switch capable of optical communication even in space.

Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) announced on the 16th that Professor Han Sang-yoon of the Department of Robotics and Professor Yoo Kyung-sik of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) jointly developed an optical switch that can transmit optical signals through the air by utilizing technology that finely moves optical semiconductors. Using this technology, it is expected that ultra-high-speed data communication will be possible not only for moving objects such as autonomous vehicles and drones but also for ultra-high-speed optical communication between satellites and the ground.

Optical communication technology is a technology that uses light to transmit information over long distances and has evolved in various forms to enable the transmission and reception of large amounts of information over long distances. Currently, the most widely used technology enabling optical communication is optical fiber technology. Optical fiber is a fiber-shaped wire made to transmit light, offering very high speed and minimal signal distortion, but it also has drawbacks such as difficulty in maintenance and vulnerability to bending.

The research team developed an optical switch capable of ultra-high-speed optical communication without optical fiber. The optical switch developed in this study is based on a Fourier lens, a material that can output desired wave signals, allowing simpler and more intuitive adjustment compared to existing systems. It also enables simultaneous transmission of near-infrared signals at various angles, making it easy to use in free-space communication. Its applications are expected in various fields such as LiDAR for autonomous vehicles, optical communication, and space optical communication.

The research team developed the optical switch using silicon photonic MEMS-based technology previously developed, reducing power consumption by more than 1000 times compared to the conventional thermo-optic method.

The research results were selected as a 'Top-scored paper,' awarded to the top 10% of papers at the world-renowned optical conference 'OFC (Optical Fiber Communications Conference and Exhibition)'. They were also invited to a special issue of the academic journal 'IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology (IF=4.288)'.