Fiber Optic Communications for Unmanned Vehicles. How It Works

Fiber optic reel for Piranha series UAV. Photo by SKB Piranha

In the area of ​​the Special Operation to Protect Donbass, unmanned aerial vehicles controlled by fiber-optic cable are widely used. Replacing the radio channel with a coil of wire has provided a number of important advantages that are now actively used in the fight against the enemy. At the same time, progress does not stand still and new solutions aimed at improving performance regularly appear.

Obvious progress

According to available data, the development of domestic UAVs with communication and control via wire began in 2023. By this time, strike drones had become widespread. Drones of different classes, and along with them, specialized electronic warfare systems. As a result, new means of communication protected from interference were required.

The solution was to use a fiber optic line. New UAVs began to receive a reel with a long cable and a corresponding modem. Operator stations and remote signal transmission posts were equipped with devices for working with fiber optics.

FPV drones with fiber-optic communication appeared in the combat zone no later than the beginning of 2024. Interestingly, they found application on both sides of the front almost simultaneously. Russian industry was able to set up mass production of such UAVs and their delivery to the troops in the shortest possible time.

UAV "Prince Vandal Novgorodsky" of early modification. Photo Telegram / BMPD

The series includes several types of UAVs. The most famous is the Prince Vandal Novgorodsky (KVN) from the Ushkuynik Scientific and Production Center, which was one of the first to appear. In turn, the Simbirsk Design Bureau produces Piranha series devices with similar capabilities.

Information about the combat use and successes of new drones is coming in through various channels. Critical reviews have also appeared, indicating the necessary improvements. In general, even in open data, large statistics have gradually accumulated, allowing conclusions to be drawn about the use and effectiveness of the equipment.

There are photos and videos of hundreds of strikes by domestic fiber-optic UAVs in open sources. They were used to destroy manpower in shelters, various automobiles and armored vehicles. At the end of June, the Ushkuynik Scientific and Production Center reported that its KVN products had destroyed enemy equipment worth a total of 2 billion US dollars during their operation. Other types of UAVs also make a significant contribution to the process of forceful demilitarization of the enemy.

The development of unmanned vehicles and fiber-optic systems continues. Communications systems with increased range and other advantages are offered. In addition, attempts are being made to use fiber-optics on ground equipment. Almost all innovations reach the front in minimal time, at least in the order of military tests. Then some of the samples go into production, and full-scale deliveries begin.

"KVN" without a reel. Photo Telegram / BMPD

Obvious advantages

The fiber optic communication system for an unmanned aerial vehicle or unmanned ground platform has a fairly simple design. It includes several basic devices mounted on the control station and on the controlled vehicle.

The main element of the system is a cable reel. A typical product of this kind has a cylindrical body with a conical end and is installed on a controlled device. Several kilometers of cable are placed inside such a body, and its free output is ensured.

Two modems are also used - for the control station and the device. They convert signals and commands into pulses for transmission via optical fiber. There are reels with built-in receiving and transmitting equipment, which gives a gain in dimensions and weight.

The main advantage of fiber-optic communication is its invulnerability to electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare. An unmanned system cannot be detected by emitted radio signals or its communication channels can be suppressed. In addition, a fiber-optic UAV does not face the problem of communication deterioration with increasing range - the cable constantly maintains the required signal quality.

Ground-based mine clearance RTK from the Shvabe holding. The complex has radio and fiber-optic communications. Photo by Rostec

Optical fiber provides high data transfer speed. Due to this, the drone can have an HD video camera or a high-resolution thermal imager, and the signal from them will be transmitted with high quality and without delays. In turn, high image resolution simplifies the search for targets from above and the solution of combat tasks in general.

The flight range and combat radius of a UAV with fiber-optic communication are determined by the length of the cable in the reel. The first serial samples, such as "KVN", had a range of no more than 10-15 km. Later, new larger reels with an increased supply of cable were introduced into production. According to various sources, the largest domestic drones can now carry up to 35-40 km of cable.

Fiber optic communications for unmanned systems continue to evolve. At the current stage, we are talking about increasing the length of the cable in the reel and improving the onboard electronics. Perhaps in the future, such communications will allow the introduction of some new functions that will further improve the capabilities of aircraft or ground vehicles.

Obvious flaws

It should be noted that this method of communication also has a number of significant drawbacks. These factors negatively affect the cost of production and operation, and can also complicate combat use or limit its results. However, most of these problems can be dealt with.

Combat use of the KVN UAV. In the foreground is an enemy vehicle with the complex EW. The drone ignores her and moves towards the target. Photo Telegram / "UAV Operator Chronicle"

All cable reel options are significant in size and weight. The body with tens of kilometers of optical fiber can be larger than other UAV units and weigh several kilograms. This unit takes away some of the platform's payload, which is why it is necessary to reduce the combat load or use a more powerful propulsion system.

Optical fiber is immune to interference, but it is not durable. Even minor impacts on it lead to a break, loss of communication and termination of combat operations. The cause of the break may be various obstacles on the route, enemy impact, etc. Even excessive flight speed, exceeding the capabilities of the coil to deliver the cable, is a risk factor.

Both air and ground unmanned platforms face such problems. At the same time, the specifics of a particular model determine the ratio of challenges and risks. For example, UAVs are more likely to break a cable due to excessive speed, and for ground RTKs, the main problem is various obstacles.

The problem of cable communication stability is solved in several ways. For example, the drone operator must plan the route taking into account the terrain features and possible risks. In addition, the industry is working on new reels that can deliver cable at increased speed and compensate for jerks.

A UAV with optical fiber flies to a target, as seen from the device's camera. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense

Optical fiber communication systems for unmanned systems are still quite expensive. They are significantly more expensive than radio systems with similar range and signal transmission parameters. At the same time, communication equipment is one of the most expensive components of UAVs.

However, the economic component of the projects should be assessed not only by the cost of individual components, but also taking into account other parameters, up to the combat effectiveness achieved. In this case, radio and wired communications have similar indicators.

Future technology

Unmanned systems with fiber-optic communication appeared on the front line less than two years ago. They quickly demonstrated their potential and, thanks to this, became widespread. UAVs of this kind are actively used in combat operations and are pushing out similar devices with radio communication. At the same time, such communication systems are constantly evolving and improving their characteristics.

It is obvious that fiber-optic communication means for unmanned vehicles have firmly taken their place and will not go out of practice in the foreseeable future. They will continue to contribute to the solution of combat tasks and the achievement of the general goals of the current Special Operation. The accumulated experience allows us to call fiber-optic communication for UAVs one of the main innovations of recent years.

Comments

[Vladimir_2U]

In addition, the industry is working on new reels that can deliver cable at higher speeds and compensate for jerks.

A buffer with a pull-up that starts working as the flight speed increases?

[Vitaly.17]

A fiber optic UAV does not face the problem of communication degradation as the range increases - the cable constantly maintains the required signal quality

Maybe it would be better to turn such a UAV into a signal repeater, hiding it in a secluded place near the combat area. It is one thing when the enemy interferes with the signal transmission for tens of kilometers, and quite another when the repeater is less than one kilometer away. The level of UAV protection from electronic warfare can be immediately increased tens of times and the range of their use many times over.

[smart fellow]

The correct term is not a modem (a signal modulator and demodulator), but a media converter (converts a signal from one type of transmission medium to another, for example, from fiber optics to twisted pair).

[Saburov_Alexander53]

It's time to come up with UAV interceptors that hook and break the enemy fiber. Something like a strong long line (fishing line) with a weighted fishing hook-anchor at the end. And launch the interceptor across the enemy drone's movement. The launch and landing of such an interceptor will be strictly vertical for the length of the line with the hook, which is not difficult for the operator. The main thing is to come up with a device for cutting (breaking) the fiber after the hook.

[anatolv]

Well, you've already come up with something! Patent it immediately and organize production!

[fiberboard]

Why only fiber optics? Other materials, wires for example, are not suitable?

[zampolite]

Perhaps optics are simply stronger (for a given weight) and cheaper (while meeting strength requirements, etc.).
The ATGMs used a wire.
"Baby" - 3 km of regular copper wire with a varnish coating, like the German "Rotkachen X-7". Fagot"/"Konkurs" - 2, later 3 km of copper-steel, with a polymer coating, much stronger, but somewhat heavier. Like Sagger, Tow.
But fiber optics seem to be used only in Jewish Spike - as the article states, problems at high speed. Drones are slower, it is better suited for them - we have a range of 10-15 km and more.

[Saburov_Alexander53]

The ATGMs used a wire.

This wire was used only to transmit the most primitive commands to control the projectile, but not to transmit the television signal to the operator. The target was held by the operator in the laser sight and from him the command was sent to the control surfaces of the projectile.

[zampolite]

Of course, there was no technology back then. Now, a pair of wires can easily transmit a video stream over 3 km, the speed of ADSL, for example, is quite enough.
But in terms of weight, durability and range, optics clearly win.

[Dedok]

Why only fiber optics? Other materials, wires for example, are not suitable?

weight, the weight of the wire through which such a volume of information can be transmitted is not comparable to fiber optics...

[Saburov_Alexander53]

Why only fiber optics? Other materials, wires for example, are not suitable?

Vladimir, a normal question for a non-specialist and in vain you are downvoted, perhaps even by those who tried to answer. But in both answers, I do not see the most important parameter, why exactly fiber optics. And because, it is necessary to transmit a sufficiently broadband video signal from the drone to the operator and science has not yet figured out how to transmit it over a regular copper pair and, moreover, over a single wire. Here you need at least a coaxial cable, like the one that was previously used from the antenna to the TV and still, the losses (attenuation) in it will be such that it will require the installation of a powerful (heavy) transmitter on the drone with the corresponding consumption of battery power.
And a special optical fiber has the property of re-reflecting a laser beam from its surface and holding it inside with minimal losses due to this very dispersion (beam leakage outward). And since laser radiation, unlike any light source with an incandescent filament, does not have inertia, i.e. it goes out and appears instantly, it can be modulated with crazy data transfer rates. And a TV signal encoded with light pulses, or any drone control channel, can easily fit in one fiber. And since the light of a specific laser is the same EMI, like any radio waves, it occupies its own spectrum (frequency). And dozens of individual light waves from different lasers can coexist in one fiber. But for a drone this is already an unnecessary luxury, but in cable communication lines (FOCL) it is widely used.

[fiberboard]

Now it's more or less clear.

[Taimen]

It turns out interesting, the author writes, where the factories are, photos of coils, devices, etc. Previously, this author would have been mastering Vorkuta or walking around with green paint on his forehead for the last days for collecting and disclosing data that was previously classified. And the publishers would have been pinched. But now, what, everything is allowed? Even what kind of panties does your beloved have and what color? About secrecy in general, it seems like it doesn’t exist in the country. We’ve come to this. What should various Leopolds and suckers be surprised about after this. But for chicken eggs stolen from a store for 1800 rubles, they give as much as 8 years. I had a chance to see such nastiness. Ugh.

[Paranoid62]

Quote: Taimen

photo of reels, cameras

In the photo, if you look closely, you can see what you need - it's covered in sludge... ugh, blurred.

Quote: Taimen

But for stealing chicken eggs from a store for 1800 rubles, they give you 8 years. I've seen such nastiness. Ugh.

Steal vodka, it's more expensive and more compact. Less chance of getting caught.

[fiberboard]

And even if you steal vodka, most people will be understanding.

[fiberboard]

About panties like in the joke?:
Stirlitz says to Müller: "Gruppenführer, why are you wearing red shorts with white polka dots?"
Müller: "So you got caught, Stirlitz, only the Russian radio operator knew about it."
Stirlitz: "If you, Gruppenführer, don't zip up your fly, by evening the entire imperial office will know about it."

[Zoer]

Quote: Taimen

It turns out interesting, the author writes where the factories are, photos of coils, devices, etc. Previously, this author would have been mastering Vorkuta or with green paint on his forehead for the last few days, collecting and disclosing data that was previously classified.

Mdasss. What an open secret. You seem to be stuck somewhere in the 37th year of the 20th century)))
Secrecy, damn it... When a simple cop with the rank of pilot is prohibited from traveling to NATO countries, but at the same time an entire deputy minister of defense EASILY travels on private visits to these same damned countries... What the hell kind of secrecy is there?

[Saburov_Alexander53]

Previously, this author would have been mastering Vorkuta or with green paint on his forehead...

Victor, I didn't put my minus under your opus, but I wanted to... I just thought that you and I are from the same "sandbox", when we loved to keep secret everything that made a normal person laugh. And often this secrecy reached the point of absurdity, due to the inertia of our slow-witted people in the First Departments and the KGB, and simply slowed down progress and production.
I already wrote here how foreign scientists were arrested in the 90s, who came at the invitation of the Russian Academy of Sciences with their GPS devices for joint work. For them, it was already like a smartphone for any citizen today... But our security guards immediately saw them as spies positioning military facilities.
I remember that because of such "secrecy" we were forbidden to install a parabolic antenna for satellite communications on the territory of the underground network communications node (UNCN)... Our officials considered its location a secret, and this antenna would become a good target for enemy cruise missiles and would unmask the strategic object...
The fact that next to this SUS there were four huge hangars with mothballed military equipment, and foreign supervisors from Germany and Japan had been working at the facility for a couple of years already.... Worse, a Globalstar interface station was already being built nearby under the supervision of an American specialist, did not in the least cancel the oak secrecy sacredly guarded by our First Department. Are you by any chance from such a department?

[rosomaha]

and are coils of the same length used? For example, the operating zone is 10 km, and the coil is installed for all 20 km.. it is not rational.. it flies into dust during an explosion. And the weight. For a short range, you can use a smaller coil, and add a more powerful warhead

[balabol]

The answer to your question is on the Internet. Type in the query "buy optical fiber for a drone" - ready-made kits for installation, from 5 to 50 km, cost, weight, characteristics.

[Zoer]

War. Combat mission. Extreme necessity, etc., etc. - all this is clear. But still, what to do with these thousands of kilometers of fiber optics scattered across the territories?

[Sensor]

what to do with these thousands of kilometers of fiber optics scattered across the territories

Do nothing, it will go away on its own. Glass is mostly SiO ₂ It came out of the sand and will go back into the sand. The strength of the fiber is low and it will not turn into a snare.

[Saburov_Alexander53]

Do nothing, it will go away on its own.

Sensor (Alexander), I would not say that... Having experience with cutting and welding optical cables, I know the strictest measures for the disposal of fiber optic fragments. And we have already provided photographs of fields completely covered in a web of fiber optics. And if without thorough cleaning before sowing vegetable crops (beets, potatoes, carrots) or, God forbid, grazing cattle on these areas, the consequences will be severe.

[Sensor]

Having experience in cutting and welding optical cables, I know the strictest measures for the disposal of optical fiber fragments.

So it is categorically not recommended to wear clothes made of quartz fabric and no one lives in industrial waste dumps. Winter, summer, wind and fiberglass will lie on the ground with subsequent immersion in dust, this is not some kind of heptyl.

[Saburov_Alexander53]

You didn't understand... The danger is not in poisoning with glass residues, but in its ingestion by people or animals. And it won't be just glass (quartz) sand, but sharp needles that damage the digestive organs. Or sticking a fragment of such a fiber into your fingers leads to very unpleasant consequences with difficult extraction. This is not a wooden splinter, but much worse, hence such safety requirements when working with it.

[Zoer]

Will it go away on its own? Glass? There is no glass there. There is a polymer, i.e. plastic is also present. Optical fiber is not a monolithic fiber. It is a composite of two media with different refraction of light. There are fibers with glass in the core, and with a polymer around it. There are fibers with two different polymers. In any case, plastic is present.

[buv59]

I recently saw a video of an FPV drone with fiber optics flying through the forest. It was ambushed by two soldiers (I didn't understand whether they were ours or the Ukrainian Armed Forces). The drone flew by without noticing them. So one soldier jumped out of the ambush with... scissors, found the cable and cut it. The soldier's camera showed how the drone, which had managed to fly about 2 meters, fell and exploded. Of course, not a method. This even reminded me that in 50 the Germans issued instructions on how to climb onto a T-41 with a... bucket of gasoline and set it on fire. I don't know if there were such cases of using buckets.

[vadim dok]

You are mistaken! There were such instructions in the Red Army: to cover the driver's observation devices with liquid clay.