Optical fiber bundles overcome size, weight, and power constraints in free-space aircraft-to-ground laser optical communications

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-12-optical-fiber-bundles-solution-high.html

"360° laser coverage from aircraft requires multiple bulky, articulated terminals (gimbals) on fuselage, overcome using small external light collectors routing signals via fiber bundles to single, centralized laser communication terminal housed safely inside aircraft... must be manufactured using UV optimized materials (so far only tested on bundles designed for visible light having loss/ distortion link penalties when used with UV lasers)... future: multiplex multiple signals from different collectors into 1 terminal"