Abstract: In one aspect, identification and communication systems are described herein. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit comprises a query beam source comprising a light emitting diode (LED) operable to emit a query beam. In some embodiments, the query beam is substantially collimated. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit comprises a first query beam source operable to emit a first component beam and a second query beam source operable to emit a second component beam. In some embodiments, the first query beam source comprises an LED and the second query beam source comprises a laser. In some embodiments, the first component beam and the second component beam are substantially concentric.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an identification and communication system described herein comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit comprises a query beam source operable to emit a query beam and at least one response unit comprises at least one detector comprising an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprising an amplifier operable to amplify the query beam. In some embodiments, a system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one response unit comprises at least one detector capable of detecting incident radiation having a power of about 100 pW or less. In some embodiments, a system comprises at least one component of a response unit disposed in a first housing mounted to a weapon and at least one component of a query unit disposed in a second housing mounted to the weapon.

Abstract: In one aspect, identification and communication systems are described herein. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit is a handheld device. In some embodiments, the handheld device does not comprise a weapon and is not mounted on a weapon. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a flashlight. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a stylus. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a smart device in communication with the stylus. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a display screen. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a query controller and the display screen is operable to display data provided by the query controller.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of simulating combat described herein comprises emitting a first query beam from a first query unit of a first interoperable identification and communication system, receiving the first query beam with a second response unit of a second interoperable identification and communication system, emitting a second response beam with the second response unit, and receiving the second response beam with the first query unit. In some embodiments, a method of simulating combat comprises emitting a query beam comprising a plurality of packets each comprising a header portion, an information portion, and a footer portion from a query unit; and receiving the query beam with a response unit comprising a plurality of detectors spatially separated from one another, wherein the response unit is operable to independently measure the intensity of each packet of the query beam received at each of the plurality of detectors.

Abstract: In one aspect, identification and communication systems are described herein. An identification and communication system described herein, in some embodiments, comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one response unit comprises one or more detectors comprising one or more optical fibers operable to direct one or more signals received from at least one query unit to the one or more detectors. In some embodiments, at least one optical fiber is operable to receive a signal from at least one query unit through the side of the optical fiber. In some embodiments, at least one optical fiber comprises a fluorescent plastic fiber (FPF). In some embodiments, at least one optical fiber is disposed in a textile.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of simulating combat described herein comprises emitting a first query beam from a first query unit of a first interoperable identification and communication system, receiving the first query beam with a second response unit of a second interoperable identification and communication system, emitting a second response beam with the second response unit, and receiving the second response beam with the first query unit. In some embodiments, a method of simulating combat comprises emitting a query beam comprising a plurality of packets each comprising a header portion, an information portion, and a footer portion from a query unit; and receiving the query beam with a response unit comprising a plurality of detectors spatially separated from one another, wherein the response unit is operable to independently measure the intensity of each packet of the query beam received at each of the plurality of detectors.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an identification and communication system described herein comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit comprises a query beam source operable to emit a query beam and at least one response unit comprises at least one detector comprising an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprising an amplifier operable to amplify the query beam. In some embodiments, a system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one response unit comprises at least one detector capable of detecting incident radiation having a power of about 100 pW or less. In some embodiments, a system comprises at least one component of a response unit disposed in a first housing mounted to a weapon and at least one component of a query unit disposed in a second housing mounted to the weapon.

Abstract: In one aspect, identification and communication systems are described herein. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit comprises a query beam source comprising a light emitting diode (LED) operable to emit a query beam. In some embodiments, the query beam is substantially collimated. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit comprises a first query beam source operable to emit a first component beam and a second query beam source operable to emit a second component beam. In some embodiments, the first query beam source comprises an LED and the second query beam source comprises a laser. In some embodiments, the first component beam and the second component beam are substantially concentric.

Abstract: In one aspect, identification and communication systems are described herein. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit is a handheld device. In some embodiments, the handheld device does not comprise a weapon and is not mounted on a weapon. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a flashlight. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a stylus. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a smart device in communication with the stylus. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a display screen. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a query controller and the display screen is operable to display data provided by the query controller.