Sceye and SoftBank Achieve Milestone in Laser Ranging with HAPS

Sceye has announced a groundbreaking achievement in collaboration with SoftBank Corp., Hitotsubashi University, and the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR). For the first time, real-time laser ranging has been demonstrated by tracking a High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) from the ground. This event marks a significant step forward in the development of free-space optical communications.

The demonstration, part of Sceye's month-long ST1 flight, involved the tracking of a Sceye stratospheric platform using laser signals. SoftBank's ground team successfully received continuous laser signals, enhancing potential communication links between ground, stratosphere, and space. The project leveraged NIPR's corner cube reflector design, integrated into a portable laser ranging system built on Hitotsubashi University's "Omni-SLR" model.

The success of this precision-driven system underlines the future of optical wireless communications, promising advancements in non-terrestrial networks, disaster recovery, and rapid data transmission. This project represents an important leap in connecting different altitudes using highly directional laser communications.