Abstract: An underwater communications network may include spaced apart nodes on a bottom of a body of water. The underwater communications network may also include fiber optic cabling connecting the spaced apart nodes. Each node may include a frame, a node short-range navigation device carried by the frame, and an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) carried by the frame after delivering a fiber optic cable along a navigation path from an adjacent node. The UUV may be configured to cooperate with the node short-range navigation device during an end portion of the navigation path adjacent the frame.

Abstract: A sensor receiver may include a Rydberg cell configured to be exposed to a radio frequency (RF) signal having an RF data rate, and a probe source configured to generate a plurality of spaced apart pulsed probe beams within the Rydberg cell. Each pulse may have a temporal pulse width so that the RF data rate is greater than the reciprocal of the temporal pulse width. At least one excitation source may be coupled to the Rydberg cell. A detector may be positioned downstream from the Rydberg cell. The sensor receiver may be used in a RADAR system.

Abstract: A docking system may include a first device and a second device moveable relative to the first device. The first device may include a docking station, a first optical transceiver, and a first controller configured to operate the first optical transceiver to receive an optical beacon signal, and generate and transmit an optical guidance data signal based on the optical beacon signal. The second device may also include a propulsion system, and a second optical transceiver configured to transmit the optical beacon signal toward the first optical transceiver and receive the optical guidance data signal from the first optical transceiver. The second device may also include a second controller configured to operate the propulsion system based upon the optical guidance data signal to dock the second device to the docking station of the first device.

Abstract: An optical fiber distributed sensing system may include an optical fiber for distributed sensing. The optical fiber may include a core including glass and diamond particles with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers distributed within the glass. The optical fiber may also include at least one glass layer surrounding the core. An optical source may be coupled to the optical fiber and operable from an end thereof. An optical detector may be coupled to the optical fiber to detect fluorescence therefrom.

Abstract: An underwater communications system may include a first device and a second device being movable relative to one another. The first device may include a first laser transmitter configured to generate a first laser beam having a selectable spatiotemporal beam shape from among a plurality thereof, and a first controller coupled to the first laser transmitter and configured to select a spatiotemporal beam shape for the first laser beam from among the spatiotemporal beam shapes. The second device may include a second laser receiver configured to receive the first laser beam, and a second controller coupled to the second laser receiver.

Abstract: A docking system may include a first device and a second device moveable relative to the first device. The first device may include a docking station, a first optical transceiver, and a first controller configured to operate the first optical transceiver to receive an optical beacon signal, and generate and transmit an optical guidance data signal based on the optical beacon signal. The second device may also include a propulsion system, and a second optical transceiver configured to transmit the optical beacon signal toward the first optical transceiver and receive the optical guidance data signal from the first optical transceiver. The second device may also include a second controller configured to operate the propulsion system based upon the optical guidance data signal to dock the second device to the docking station of the first device.

Abstract: An underwater communications system may include a first device and a second device being movable relative to one another. The first device may include a first laser transmitter configured to generate a first laser beam having a selectable spatiotemporal beam shape from among a plurality thereof, and a first controller coupled to the first laser transmitter and configured to select a spatiotemporal beam shape for the first laser beam from among the spatiotemporal beam shapes. The second device may include a second laser receiver configured to receive the first laser beam, and a second controller coupled to the second laser receiver.

Abstract: A docking system may include a first device and a second device moveable relative to the first device. The first device may include a docking station, a first optical transceiver, and a first controller configured to operate the first optical transceiver to receive an optical beacon signal, and generate and transmit an optical guidance data signal based on the optical beacon signal. The second device may also include a propulsion system, and a second optical transceiver configured to transmit the optical beacon signal toward the first optical transceiver and receive the optical guidance data signal from the first optical transceiver. The second device may also include a second controller configured to operate the propulsion system based upon the optical guidance data signal to dock the second device to the docking station of the first device.

Abstract: An underwater communications network may include spaced apart nodes on a bottom of a body of water. The underwater communications network may also include fiber optic cabling connecting the spaced apart nodes. Each node may include a frame, a node short-range navigation device carried by the frame, and an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) carried by the frame after delivering a fiber optic cable along a navigation path from an adjacent node. The UUV may be configured to cooperate with the node short-range navigation device during an end portion of the navigation path adjacent the frame.

Abstract: A docking system may include a first device and a second device moveable relative to the first device. The first device may include a docking station, a first optical transceiver, and a first controller configured to operate the first optical transceiver to receive an optical beacon signal, and generate and transmit an optical guidance data signal based on the optical beacon signal. The second device may also include a propulsion system, and a second optical transceiver configured to transmit the optical beacon signal toward the first optical transceiver and receive the optical guidance data signal from the first optical transceiver. The second device may also include a second controller configured to operate the propulsion system based upon the optical guidance data signal to dock the second device to the docking station of the first device.

Abstract: An underwater fiber optic cable includes an optical fiber, and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber. The jacket includes a polymer having a first density, and particles distributed throughout the polymer having a second density greater than the first density. The particles have a predetermined volume fraction to thereby provide the underwater cable with a predetermined buoyancy when underwater.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly may include a first housing having a first opening therein, a second housing having a second opening therein, a first optical window carried by the first housing within the first opening, a second optical window carried by the second housing within the second opening, at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) carried within the first housing behind the first optical window, and at least one photodetector carried within the second housing behind the second optical window. A first magnetic member may be carried by the first housing, and a second magnetic member may be carried by the second housing and configured to cooperate with the first magnetic member to bias the first and second housings together so that the at least one VCSEL and the at least one photodetector are in optical alignment.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly may include a first housing having a first opening therein, a second housing having a second opening therein, a first optical window carried by the first housing within the first opening, a second optical window carried by the second housing within the second opening, at least one Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) carried within the first housing behind the first optical window, and at least one photodetector carried within the second housing behind the second optical window. A first magnetic member may be carried by the first housing, and a second magnetic member may be carried by the second housing and configured to cooperate with the first magnetic member to bias the first and second housings together so that the at least one VCSEL and the at least one photodetector are in optical alignment.

Abstract: An active balancing system for rotating machinery is provided which is light weight, solid state and powered by radiant energy. One or more balance rings coupled to the rotating machinery each have balancing elements which are moved to a selected position by actuators whose operation is controlled according to measured vibration resulting from imbalance of the machinery. The actuators are powered by an electrical energy generating device, such as a photo cell or a photovoltaic element, which is coupled to the machinery and located across an air gap from a source of radiant energy such as an array of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An active balancing system for rotating machinery is provided which is light weight, solid state and powered by radiant energy. One or more balance rings coupled to the rotating machinery each have balancing elements which are moved to a selected position by actuators whose operation is controlled according to measured vibration resulting from imbalance of the machinery. The actuators are powered by an electrical energy generating device, such as a photo cell or a photovoltaic element, which is coupled to the machinery and located across an air gap from a source of radiant energy such as an array of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An active balancing system for rotating machinery is provided which is light weight, solid state and powered by radiant energy. One or more balance rings coupled to the rotating machinery each have balancing elements which are moved to a selected position by actuators whose operation is controlled according to measured vibration resulting from imbalance of the machinery. The actuators are powered by an electrical energy generating device, such as a photo cell or a photovoltaic element, which is coupled to the machinery and located across an air gap from a source of radiant energy such as an array of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An active balancing system for rotating machinery is provided which is light weight, solid state and powered by radiant energy. One or more balance rings coupled to the rotating machinery each have balancing elements which are moved to a selected position by actuators whose operation is controlled according to measured vibration resulting from imbalance of the machinery. The actuators are powered by an electrical energy generating device, such as a photo cell or a photovoltaic element, which is coupled to the machinery and located across an air gap from a source of radiant energy such as an array of light emitting diodes.