Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for laser-based communications are disclosed. At least one embodiment relates to laser-mediated underwater communications, in which one or more laser signals transmit encoded information from a transmitter to a receiver. Additionally, an underwater transmitter node sends information to an underwater receiver node using one or more lasers. At least an additional embodiment relates to laser-based communications that may be used to send information across a variety of media (e.g., air, water, etc.). Specifically, a first and a second communications system each sends a laser beam to the other. Each communications system further includes a position sensitive detector (PSD) that obtains positioning and/or steering information of an incoming laser beam and ensures that the positions of both the outgoing laser beam and the incoming laser beam match.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to systems, materials, and methods for ore tracking. In particular, the invention relates to metamaterial RFID tags that are chip-free and comprise RF metamaterials to produce unique spectral features when illuminated with microwave radiation. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the metamaterial RFID tags includes one or more tag units that have a particular spectral response representing a one-bit code. As a result, each tag may comprise a specific code that is “assembled” from a plurality of tag units in a modular fashion. One or more embodiments of the present invention further includes a blast-tolerant package for one or more of the metamaterial RFID tags that enables such tags to survive blasting, crushing, and/or other forces inherent in mine operations.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for underwater communications are disclosed. In particular, the present invention relates to laser-mediated underwater communications, in which one or more laser signals transmit encoded information from a transmitter to a receiver. Accordingly, at least one embodiment of the invention includes an underwater transmitter node that sends information to an underwater receiver node using one or more lasers. The one or more lasers may be focused on to the underwater receiver node using a lens, telescope, or the like. The one or more lasers may additionally have a wavelength in the blue-green portion of the visible spectrum, including specifically, for instance, 450 nm, thereby enabling the one or more lasers to transmit effectively underwater. In additional embodiments of the invention, the information transmitted between the underwater transmitter node and the underwater receiver node is an encoded digital transmission.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for underwater communications are disclosed. In particular, the present invention relates to laser-mediated underwater communications, in which one or more laser signals transmit encoded information from a transmitter to a receiver. Accordingly, at least one embodiment of the invention includes an underwater transmitter node that sends information to an underwater receiver node using one or more lasers. The one or more lasers may be focused on to the underwater receiver node using a lens, telescope, or the like. The one or more lasers may additionally have a wavelength in the blue-green portion of the visible spectrum, including specifically, for instance, 450 nm, thereby enabling the one or more lasers to transmit effectively underwater. In additional embodiments of the invention, the information transmitted between the underwater transmitter node and the underwater receiver node is an encoded digital transmission.