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: A quantum communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and a quantum communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The transmitter node may include a pulse transmitter and pulse divider downstream therefrom. The receiver node may include a pulse recombiner and a pulse receiver downstream therefrom.

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 optical device may include a substrate and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) on the substrate. The optical device may also include a coupling layer over the substrate and that includes optical guides aligned with the VCSELs to guide outputs thereof from a vertical path direction to a lateral path direction. The optical device also includes controllable delay elements, each controllable delay element associated with a respective optical guide, and a controller coupled to the controllable delay elements.

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: A communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and an optical communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The transmitter node may include a pulse transmitter and a pulse divider downstream therefrom. The receiver node may include a pulse recombiner and a pulse receiver downstream 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: A communications system may include a transmitter node, a receiver node, and an optical communications channel coupling the transmitter node and receiver node. The transmitter node may include a pulse transmitter and a pulse divider downstream therefrom. The receiver node may include a pulse recombiner and a pulse receiver downstream therefrom.

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: An optical device may include a pinhole array layer having pinhole array apertures therein. The pinhole array layer may have a first side to be directed toward incoming electromagnetic (E/M) radiation, and a second side opposite the first side. The optical device may also include image sensors. Each image sensor may include image sensing pixels adjacent the second side of the pinhole array layer. The optical device may also include mirrors. Each mirror may be associated with a respective image sensor and respective pinhole array aperture defining a camera. Each mirror may reflect incoming E/M radiation passing through the respective pinhole array aperture to the respective image sensor. A respective baffle may be between adjacent cameras.

Abstract: An optical device may include a pinhole array layer having pinhole array apertures therein. The pinhole array layer may have a first side to be directed toward incoming electromagnetic (E/M) radiation, and a second side opposite the first side. The optical device may also include image sensors. Each image sensor may include image sensing pixels adjacent the second side of the pinhole array layer. The optical device may also include mirrors. Each mirror may be associated with a respective image sensor and respective pinhole array aperture defining a camera. Each mirror may reflect incoming E/M radiation passing through the respective pinhole array aperture to the respective image sensor. A respective baffle may be between adjacent cameras.

Abstract: An optical device may include a pinhole array layer having pinhole array apertures therein. The pinhole array layer may have a first side to be directed toward incoming electromagnetic (E/M) radiation, and a second side opposite the first side. The optical device may also include image sensors. Each image sensor may include image sensing pixels adjacent the second side of the pinhole array layer. The optical device may also include mirrors. Each mirror may be associated with a respective image sensor and respective pinhole array aperture defining a camera. Each mirror may reflect incoming E/M radiation passing through the respective pinhole array aperture to the respective image sensor. A respective baffle may be between adjacent cameras.