Augusta Announces Results for the Third Quarter and Corporate Update

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 30, 2017) - Augusta Industries Inc. (TSXV: AAO) (the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that it has released its financial results for the nine months ending September 30, 2017.

For the three months ending September 30, 2017, the Corporation had revenues of $650,000 as compared to $1,479,000 during the three months ending September 30, 2016. Marcon group backlog sales as on the date of the MD&A is $1,988,000. Four of the backlog orders worth $1,723,000 have a long delivery lead time. The Corporation also expects to build on the two contracts signed in 2017 by FOX-TEK worth $1,039,000 over a three year period.

About the Corporation:

Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Marcon International Inc. ("Marcon") and Fox-Tek Canada Inc. ("Fox-Tek"), the Corporation provides a variety of services and products to a number of clients.

Marcon is an industrial supply contractor servicing the energy sector and a number of US Government entities. Marcon's principal business is the sale and distribution of industrial parts and equipment (Electrical, mechanical and Instrumentation.) In addition to departments and agencies of the U.S. Government, Marcon's major clients include Saudi Arabia-Sabic Services (Refining and Petrochemical), Bahrain National Gas Co, Bahrain Petroleum, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Gas, Qatar Petrochemical, Gulf of Suez Petroleum, Agiba Petroleum and Burullus Gas Co.

Fox Tek develops non-intrusive asset health monitoring sensor systems for the oil and gas market to help operators track the thinning of pipelines and refinery vessels due to corrosion/erosion, strain due to bending/buckling and process pressure and temperature. The Corporation's FT fiber optic sensor and corrosion monitoring systems allow cost-effective, 24/7 remote monitoring capabilities to improve scheduled maintenance operations, avoid unnecessary shutdowns, and prevent accidents and leaks.

More information at Source Link:
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/30904/Augusta-Announces-Results-for-the-Third-Quarter-and-Corporate-Update#.WiBFzrjlu_g

Chip-based sensors with incredible sensitivity

Source:

Penn State

 

Summary:

In London's St. Paul's Cathedral, a whisper can be heard far across the circular whispering gallery as the sound curves around the walls. Now, an optical whispering gallery mode resonator can spin light around the circumference of a tiny sphere millions of times, creating an ultrasensitive microchip-based sensor for multiple applications. 

 

See entire article at Source Link:  

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171102121005.htm

Drastically cut energy use and increase the speed of optical communications

QMUL spin out receives investment to develop energy-saving optical communications technology

A Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) spin out company has received investment to commercialise a new material technology which would both drastically cut energy use and increase the speed of optical communications.

Source Link:  http://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2017/se/qmul-spin-out-receives-investment-to-develop-energy-saving-optical-communications-technology.html

2 November 2017

inShare

Professor William Gillin

Chromosol, founded by Professor William Gillin, will develop technology to allow the manipulation of light directly on silicon chips, allowing them to communicate via pulses of light rather than electrical signals.

This would make communication between chips very fast whilst also reducing the power consumption.

The idea has been backed by IP Group, a developer of intellectual property-based businesses, which will work closely with QMUL throughout the development with the provision of both commercial expertise and financing.

Professor Gillin, Director of the Materials Research Institute at QMUL, said: “We’re delighted IP Group is supporting Chromosol and we look forward to working closely with them to commercialise our work.”

“Chromosol’s technology is easy to integrate and is compatible with the existing processing techniques, providing a simple solution to a growing problem.”

Data centre energy use

The technology could have a big impact on the energy use of data centres – large groups of networked computer servers typically used by organisations like Google and Facebook for remote storage and processing huge amounts of data.

Traditional copper cables, used for transferring data electrically, are stifling both data centre evolution and high-performance computing due to their slow transfer capacity and high energy consumption – the latter which results in the need for vast amounts of cooling.

It is estimated data centres now use around three per cent of the world’s generated electricity and produce about two per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Professor Gillin said: “Large amounts of energy are needed to move data electrically over relatively short distances. If we can remove the need for this electrical data transfer then the power requirements of data centres will be reduced dramatically.”

Optical communications are quicker and more energy efficient than the traditional copper infrastructure but previous attempts to launch products into this market have suffered from low yield of production, high cost of manufacturing, and complexities of integration onto silicon devices. Chromosol’s technology aims to address and alleviate all of these problems.

Inter-Satellite Optical-Wireless Communication (IsOWC)

Modeling and Performance Analysis of 10 Gbps Inter-Satellite-Link (ISL) In Inter-Satellite Optical-Wireless Communication (IsOWC) System between LEO and GEO Satellites

    Tayyab Mehmood, Nauman Hameed

Free space optical communication has merged the aspects of fiber optics and the wireless communication which are the most conquered and controlled telecommunication technologies. Most of the features of free space optics (FSO) are interrelated to fiber optics but the difference between them is transmission medium, which is glass in case of fiber-optics and air/vacuum in case of FSO. In the near future, communication between LEO & GEO satellites with each other which are orbiting the Earth will be done by using inter-satellite optical wireless communication (IsOWC) systems. IsOWC systems is the most significant application of the FSO and it will be installed in the space in the near future because of its low input power, no licensing by ITU, low cost, light weight, small size of the telescopes and very high data rates as compared to the radio frequency (RF) satellite systems. In this research article, IsOWC system is designed between LEO and GEO satellites by using optisystem which is not stated in past examined research works. Inter-satellite link is established between satellites which are separated by the distance of 40,000 Km at the bit rate of 10 Gbps.

Submitted 29 Nov 2017 to Signal Processing [eess.SP]

Published 30 Nov 2017

Author comments: 4 Pages, 6 Figures, 2014 IEEE 17th International Multi-Topic Conference (INMIC), Karachi, Pakistan

http://arxiv.org/abs/1711.10864

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1711.10864.pdf

See Source Link: https://scirate.com/arxiv/1711.10864

Design of active all-optical magnetometer

Abstract:

The researchers propose an active all-optical magnetometer based on Cesium four-level atomic system. The magnetometer is free of radio frequency antenna, thus has smaller measure volumes. With an theoretical milli Hertz linewidth of the four-level active optical clock, the magnetometer has a potential sensitivity of tens of fT Hz-1/2.

Published in: Frequency and Time Forum and IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFC), 2017 Joint Conference of the European

Date of Conference: 9-13 July 2017

Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 30 October 2017

Publisher: IEEE

Conference Location: Besancon, France

Source Link (DOI): 10.1109/FCS.2017.8088876

OPTICS 2018

Conference Announcement -

OPTICS is part of ICETE, the 15th International Joint Conference on e-Business and Telecommunications.

Porto, Portugal - July 26-28, 2018

 

Registration to OPTICS allows free access to all other ICETE conferences.

Upcoming Deadlines

Regular Paper Submission: March 13, 2018

Regular Paper Authors Notification: May 14, 2018

Regular Paper Camera Ready and Registration: May 28, 2018

The purpose of OPTICS 2018, the International Conference on Optical Communication Systems, is to bring together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested on any of the optical communication components of an optical communication system, or the system itself. 

An optical communication system consists of a transmitter, which encodes a message into an optical signal, a channel, which carries the signal to its destination, and a receiver, which reproduces the message from the received optical signal. Optical fiber is currently the main means for high-rate transmission in communication networks. In the last years, there is a great deal of ongoing research efforts that span the entire protocol stack of optical networks, with representative areas being architecture of optical components, optoelectronics, wavelength routing, energy efficiency, Quality of Service, hybrid optical-wireless networks etc.

Conference Chair

Mohammad S. Obaidat, Fordham University, United States

PROGRAM CHAIR

Panagiotis Sarigiannidis, University of Western Macedonia, Greece

Source Link:  http://www.optics.icete.org/

Symmetric 80-Gbps - NG-PON2

NG-PON2 can be implemented in many wavelength plans to replace or coexist with previous PON technologies.  In 2017, a proposed design was simulated taking into consideration the practical parameters of existing systems, the results shows that the system is reliable for implementation for   80-Gbps, utilizing 8-pairs of wavelengths transmitted over 40 Km and distributed and received by 128-users with an acceptable data rate.  

 
Source link: http://journals.iugaza.edu.ps/index.php/IUGNS/article/viewFile/2586/1791

Fiber Optic Microswitch

Micronor Inc. was first established in 2003 in a modest business unit on Old Conejo Road in Newbury Park, California.

In addition to providing sales and service for Micronor AG products in the North America, Micronor Inc. brought together a group of ambitious fiberoptic engineers who spent the next 10 years creating innovative fiber optic sensors. They branded them ZapFREE® because of their immunity to EMI, RFI and lightning.

2004  –  World’s First Commercial FO Incremental Encoder (MR310)
2007  –  US Patent 7,196,320 awarded for FO Incremental Encoder
2010  –  World’s First Commercial MRI-compatible FO Encoder (MR318)
2011  –  World’s First 13-bit FO Position Sensor (MR330)
2012  – World’s First Commercial MRI Safe FO Position Sensor (MR338)
2013  – US Patent 8,461,514 awarded for FO Absolute Position Sensor
2016  – World’s First Fiber Optic Microswitch

 


Since its founding in 1968, Micronor has been global “go-to” manufacturer for rotation sensor solutions, including geared limit switches, encoders, resolvers, motorized potentiometers and other components for the automation industry. Their extremely modular systems help us to conceive designs, prototypes and production units in record time. Their technology portfolio offers the broadest range of products from electromechanical to electronic to optical to fiber optics. ISO9000 certification in Switzerland.

Source Link: https://micronor.com/about/
 

Telefónica revolutionizes the connectivity market with plastic fibre and 60GHz Wi-Fi

The work is a pioneering innovation project in Spain

• Plastic optical fibre (POF) guarantees up to 1 Gbps, is easy to install, given that it can use all the existing channels in the home, and is secure, as it cannot be intercepted.
• The 60GHz Wi-Fi permits bandwidth with a theoretical maximum of 4600 Mbps.

Madrid, 14 November 2017.- Today, Telefónica presented a pioneering innovation project in Spain based on plastic optical fibre (POF), a solution for home connectivity which is easy to install and guarantees up to 1 Gbps for customers.
In addition, in order to optimize the connectivity, Telefónica demonstrated the potential of the 60GHz Wi-Fi technology, which can offer theoretical connectivities of up to 4600 Mbps.

Plastic optical fibre is a fibre with an 1mm core and a total diameter of 2.2mm which provides connectivity in the home with simple installation (it is sliced with a cutter), without connectors and at a cost considerably lower than glass fibre. All the existing pipelines in the home can be used to install it, without any risk or inconvenience. At the same time, it is secure because it cannot be intercepted and is immune to interferences.

Telefónica has conducted a plastic optical fibre pilot scheme in about 30 homes, each with up to four fibre outlets, with the deployment of a hybrid POF network (wired backbone) + Wi-Fi, with a smart Wi-Fi amplifier as the access point to expand the coverage.

Telefónica’s technological partner in this initiative is chipset provider KDPOF, a Spanish startup whose technology has become the Ethernet standard for plastic optical fibre, according to the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).

The basic elements for the installation, in addition to the plastic fibre, are the media converter and the KDPOF chipset inside it. The media converter holds the plug, provides two Ethernet ports and permits the connection of two different POF branches.

60GHz Wi-Fi

Similarly, in order to optimize the connectivity, Telefónica is testing 60GHz Wi-Fi technology with large bandwidth and a theoretical maximum of 4600 Mbps. This new technology has various scopes of application, including rapid content download, high-quality video streaming without decompression, wireless docking and virtual reality device connectivity.

SOURCE LINK: 

https://www.telefonica.com/en/web/press-office/-/telefonica-revolutionizes-the-connectivity-market-with-plastic-fibre-and-60ghz-wi-fi

Optical Line Terminal (OLT) Growth Driven by "Cloudization"

Huawei’s Pizza OLT Solution to Accelerate FTTH Network Deployment

[Shenzhen, China, November 22, 2017] Huawei officially launched its Pizza Optical Line Terminal (OLT) solution, which is based on new one rack unit (U) box-shaped OLTs that feature compact size and low density. This solution further enriches fiber to the home (FTTH) solutions and product portfolios, helping operators speed deployment of FTTH networks.
Driven by home networks, network “cloudization,” and new services such as 4K and virtual reality (VR), fiber access has become an important measure for countries around the world to build broadband networks. An increasing number of operators have begun to use fiber access. With fiber access nodes continuously being moved downwards, OLTs are deployed closer to users. As deployment scenarios are varied and complex, operators urgently require smaller and lower-density OLTs to meet a range of requirements.
To help meet these needs, Huawei’s Pizza OLT MA5801 is designed at only one U in height, supporting dual AC or DC power supplies and a wide range of operating temperature, ensuring high reliability. It also offers two configurations. In the GPON solution, the Pizza OLT supports a maximum of eight ports and covers more than 500 users in typical use scenarios. In the PON combo solution, the Pizza OLT supports smooth evolution from GPON to XG-PON. It can be upgraded to gigabit ultra-broadband (UBB) access without the need to change components.
Huawei also provides multiple FTTH solutions based on the new Pizza OLTs. These OLTs can be flexibly applied in the following scenarios to meet requirements for economical and efficient network construction:
In scenarios of fast network construction through fixed-mobile convergence (FMC), mobile operators can fully use existing backhaul network resources and cabinet space when building FTTH networks. Specifically, they can deploy Huawei's Pizza OLTs in their mobile cabinets and lay short-distance drop fibers to cover surrounding households. Ultimately, Huawei's Pizza OLTs enable operators to achieve fast deployment and cut time-to-market.
In enterprises' all-optical campus scenarios, operators can uniformly build, operate, and maintain passive optical LAN (POL) networks using Huawei's Pizza OLTs. Operators can also lease these networks to campuses or enterprises, deploy all-optical access services in enterprise campuses, and seize opportunities in blue ocean markets in business-to-business (B2B) services for long-term growth.
In common coverage scenarios for national broadband, operators can rapidly roll out long-distance FTTH network coverage in sparsely-populated rural areas deploying Huawei's Pizza OLTs, Class C++ GPON optical modules with high power budgets, and a one-stop outdoor site solution. In geographically complex areas, such as islands and mountainous areas facing costly and time-consuming deployment of upstream fibers, operators can also use the microwave backhaul solution to achieve reliable FTTH network access at long distances. In this way, operators can reduce deployment time by 70% and strike a balance between investment expenditures and network coverage.
As broadband networks are the foundation for a smart society, Huawei, as a world-leading UBB network solution provider, is committed to providing innovative future-oriented solutions for operators over the long term. To date, Huawei has provided UBB access services for 500 million home users worldwide. In the future, Huawei will continue to work with global operators and industry partners to drive sustainable development of the UBB industry and build a better-connected world.

SOURCE LINK:  http://www.huawei.com/en/news/2017/11/Huawei-new-Pizza-OLT-Solution-FTTH

OPSENS’ Japanese partner Zeon medical proceeds with Conversion of US$2 million Debenture

Quebec City, Quebec, November 27, 2017 - Opsens Inc. ("Opsens" or the "Company") (TSX:OPS) (OTCQX:OPSSF) is pleased to announce the conversion of the US$2 million debenture held by Zeon Medical Inc. ("Zeon Medical"), Opsens’ Japanese partner.   Zeon Medical has been a client of Opsens since 2004. In 2012, Opsens granted Zeon Medical the exclusive distribution rights for its products designed to measure Fractional Flow Reserve (“FFR”) in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.   Today, Opsens announced that the aggregate principal amount under the debenture and the accrued interest had been fully converted into common shares of the Company.   Dr. Noboru Yanagida, President of Zeon Medical, said: “we are delighted to become a shareholder of Opsens. We appreciate the business partnership we have developed and expect to continue to grow this relationship for the benefit of our two companies."   "We are pleased to see our longtime partner, Zeon Medical, become a shareholder in our Company. The trust that has developed between our two companies, over more than ten years of cooperation, has contributed to the decision to convert the debenture into shares of Opsens," concluded Mr. Louis Laflamme, President and CEO of Opsens.   About Opsens Inc. (www.opsens.com or www.opsensmedical.com) Opsens focuses mainly on the measure of FFR in interventional cardiology. Opsens offers an advanced optical-based pressure guidewire (OptoWire) that aims at improving the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease. Opsens is also involved in industrial activities.   About ZEON CORPORATION (www.zeon.co.jp) and Zeon Medical Inc. (www.zeonmedical.co.jp/e) Founded in 1950, ZEON CORPORATION is a chemicals manufacturer that produces materials for daily life such as synthetic rubbers, specialty resins and electronic components. Using unique technologies, the company has improved its integrated production system and is considered to be a world leader in special synthetic rubber manufacturing. Zeon Medical, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the ZEON CORPORATION, has over 20 year’s history in the production and distribution of medical devices in the field of cardiovascular/ GI endoscopic treatment.   Forward-looking statements contained in this press release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance and achievements of Opsens to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the said forward-looking statements.   Neither TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.                                                                                                         -30-   For further information, please contact:          Louis Laflamme, CPA, CA, Chief Executive Officer, 418.781.0333                                                                                   Robin Villeneuve, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer, 418.781.0333

 

Lasers for 100, 200 and 400G Datacenter Applications

CW Lasers for Short Reach Silicon Photonics Transceiver Modules and EMLs with Integrated Drivers for Long Reach PAM4 Transceivers

 

NeoPhotonics Corporation (NYSE:NPTN), a leading designer and manufacturer of optoelectronic solutions for the highest speed communications networks in telecom and datacenter applications, highlighted its laser components for 100 to 400 Gbps applications for the data center, including CWDM4, CLR4, PSM-4 and PAM4, at the at the European Conference on Optical Communications in Gothenburg, Sweden, in September (2017).
First, NeoPhotonics offers high power 1310 nm lasers and laser arrays qualified for use with low-cost, non-hermetic packages for 100G silicon photonics based QSFP28 modules. For longer reaches, NeoPhotonics offers low power consumption 28 GBaud externally modulated lasers (EML) with an integrated driver, which are designed for 4x25 NRZ 100G, 4x50 PAM4 200G, and 8x50 PAM4 400G data center applications. NeoPhotonics also offers a leading 56 Gbaud EML with an integrated driver which is designed for use in 4x100 PAM4 configurations for 400G data center applications.
Silicon Photonics based transceivers require custom, high power, non-hermetic laser sources to provide the light source. NeoPhotonics has developed, and qualified to the Telcordia GR-468-CORE Issue 2 standard, a line of high power, uncooled lasers and laser arrays. Each laser provides an efficient and high power light source designed around a specific implementation of silicon-based high speed analog and digital electronic devices and related photonic components. These high power 1310nm CW DFB lasers are qualified to the non-hermetic test compliance with Telcordia GR-468-CORE Issue 2, including damp heat testing for powered non-hermetic devices, and are production ready.
For longer reaches, NeoPhotonics new 28 GBaud EML integrates a driver, which utilizes NeoPhotonics low power linear GaAs amplifier technology, with NeoPhotonics 28 GBaud EML at the chip-on-carrier, or CoC, level. The CoC assembly fits into a four channel transmitter optical sub-assembly, or Quad TOSA, designed for 100Gbps QSFP28 and CFP4 form factors, eliminating the need for a separate driver on the board. In PAM4 applications, the integrated linear driver makes NeoPhotonics’ new CMOS-drivable 28 GBaud EML an attractive option for 200Gbps and 400Gbps applications due to the simple and direct connection to the PAM4/CDR IC. NeoPhotonics’ 56 Gbaud EML with integrated driver is similarly attractive for use in PAM4 single wavelength 100G for four wavelength 400G applications.
“Our laser components are key elements for optical modules used inside the datacenter suppling the light for short reach Silicon Photonics based 100G transceivers and the modulated light for longer reach PAM4 based 100G and 400G transceivers,” said Tim Jenks, Chairman and CEO of NeoPhotonics. “While the laser architectures are different, both are designed by us, manufactured in our internal fabs and utilize our hybrid photonic integration technology for high performance and high reliability,” continued Mr. Jenks.
In addition, as part of the ECOC Market Focus Program, Dr. Winston Way, NeoPhotonics CTO, Systems, presented a paper entitled “Applications of 64 Gbaud Optical Components and Modules”.

About NeoPhotonics
NeoPhotonics is a leading designer and manufacturer of optoelectronic solutions for the highest speed communications networks in telecom and datacenter applications. The Company’s products enable cost-effective, high-speed data transmission and efficient allocation of bandwidth over communications networks. NeoPhotonics maintains headquarters in San Jose, California and ISO 9001:2000 certified engineering and manufacturing facilities in Silicon Valley (USA), Japan and China.
© 2017 NeoPhotonics Corporation. All rights reserved. NeoPhotonics and the red dot logo are trademarks of NeoPhotonics Corporation. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release includes statements that qualify as forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those related to industry trends and expected demand for high speed network applications. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are only predictions based on the company’s current expectations, estimates and projections about their respective industry and business, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by the company, all of which are subject to change and which may differ materially from actual future events or results. The actual company results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements as well as other risks and uncertainties relating to the company’s business, are described more fully in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE LINK:  https://www.neophotonics.com/press-releases/?newsId=2301118

Restoring Power in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

Restore Power in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Maria

November 22, 2017

Downed power lines in Puerto Rico, where the Energy Department is helping to coordinate restoration efforts. | US Energy Department photo.

 

 

 Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE)

One of OE’s priorities is ensuring the resilience and reliability of the nation’s grid. Work is required that focuses on technology development, providing technical assistance to address the changing energy environment, and enhancing protection of the grid from all hazards. 

Fiber Optic Cables - Carried on Electric Poles is a Problem/Challenge for the DOE

According to Bruce J. Walker at the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), deploying line crews and equipment to Puerto Rico and the USVI is more complicated than doing so on the mainland of the United States. The amount of fiber optics on the electric poles increased wind shear, and caused more damage to them.

Source Link: https://www.energy.gov/articles/how-energy-department-helping-restore-power-puerto-rico-and-us-virgin-islands

Unerwater Access to large-capacity optical communication operations with autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)

Kawasaki Successfully Completes AUV Verification Test in UK

Nov. 21, 2017

 
 

Tokyo, November 21, 2017 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today its successful completion of a verification test for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in UK waters.

With a focus on the growing demand for pipeline maintenance in the offshore oil and gas fields, Kawasaki has been developing leading-edge component technologies of AUVs utilizing sophisticated underwater vehicle technologies fostered in-house over the years, with support from a subsidization project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).^*1
An AUV is capable of autonomously assessing and acting according to its surrounding conditions and circumstances while carrying out preassigned missions, which stands in contrast to the more widely used remotely operated vehicle (ROV), which needs a tether cable for its operation. As a result, AUVs can be operated without dedicated operators on the mother ship or special onboard equipment. Furthermore, tasks such as charging and transferring collected inspection data to the mother ship can be carried out while the AUV is underwater, which enables longer deployment time and reduces the frequency of launching and recovery work. These are expected to reduce the burden of the ship crew, offer greater safety, and reduce maintenance-related costs.

Unerwater Access to  large-capacity optical communication operations -- The AUV verification test was carried out from November 6 to 20, 2017 at The Underwater Centre, a marine testing and training facility in Fort William, Scotland. Tests at sea used a prototype AUV and a charging station, and included automated docking of the AUV to the charging station, contactless charging, and large-capacity optical communication operations.

During the testing period, representatives from major oil and gas companies, underwater vehicle and equipment operating companies, UK government organizations, UK subsea scientific societies and other organizations interested in Kawasaki’s AUV development efforts were invited to view demonstrations. Kawasaki received high praise from the attendees in relevant fields, with many expressing hope for future commercialization of the AUV.

Kawasaki plans to pursue full-scale development of a pipeline-inspection AUV which utilizes the automated docking and other component technologies tested in Scotland, as well as control algorithms^*2 being developed in cooperation with the UK's Heriot-Watt University, with the aim of commercializing the AUV by the end of FY 2020.

	*1		AUV Technology Development for Marine Facility Maintenance and Improvements Project (FY 2013–17), a development-support subsidization project undertaken by MLIT to promote and facilitate the cultivation of technologies used in marine resource development efforts.
	*2		Theoretical formulas to enable the AUV to make judgments/decisions while estimating close-proximity underwater pipeline locations using multiple sensors.

SOURCE LINK: https://global.kawasaki.com/en/corp/newsroom/news/detail/?f=20171121_0000

Surface Plasmon Resonance-based Fiber Optic Chemical & Biosensors

Recent advances in surface plasmon resonance based fiber optic chemical and biosensors utilizing bulk and nanostructures

See the entire article at the following Link:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2017.11.015

---

Highlights

•

Recent studies on SPR and LSPR based fiber optic sensors are reviewed.

•

Prevalent functionalization tactics used to configure sensing layer are presented.

•

Diverse geometrical blueprints of fiber optic sensing probes are elucidated.

•

Role of nanomaterials and detection methods for fiber optic sensors are discussed.

•

Classic examples from literature are outlined to appreciate latest advancements.

Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity (Made In Space Fiber Optics)

ISS Science for Everyone
Science Objectives for Everyone
The Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity (Made In Space Fiber Optics) investigation demonstrates the merits of manufacturing fiber optic filaments in microgravity. The fiber optic material chosen for this demonstration is ZBLAN. Research indicates this material has the potential for better optical qualities than the silica used in most fiber optic cable. This demonstration of the scientific and commercial merits of manufacturing exotic optical fiber in microgravity could set the stage for large scale manufacture of high-quality fiber optic fiber in orbit. Science Results for Everyone
Information Pending

The following content was provided by Jan Clawson, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Experiment Details OpNom: Made In Space Fiber Optics
Principal Investigator(s)
Jan Clawson, Made In Space, Jacksonville, FL, United States

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)
Michael P. Snyder, M.S. Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering, Made in Space, Moffett Field, CA, United States

Developer(s)
Made In Space, Moffett Field, CA, United States

Sponsoring Space Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Sponsoring Organization
National Laboratory (NL)

Research Benefits
Earth Benefits, Scientific Discovery

ISS Expedition Duration
September 2017 - February 2018

Expeditions Assigned
53/54

Previous Missions
none

---

Experiment Description Research Overview
The Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity Experiment (OFPIM), by the company Made In Space (MIS), demonstrates the scientific and commercial merit for Earth of manufacturing novel optical fiber material in the microgravity environment on the International Space Station (ISS). The optical fiber chosen for production in microgravity aboard the ISS is the high value optical fiber, ZBLAN. Research indicates that ZBLAN produced in a microgravity environment exhibits significant improvement its performance as fiber optic fiber material. The resulting structure of the material provides further information for the future manufacture of these materials in microgravity.
Description
The Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity (Made In Space Fiber Optics) is attempting to pull fiber optic wire from ZBLAN, a heavy metal fluoride glass commonly used to make fiber optic glass. When ZBLAN is solidified in a one-G environment, its atomic structure tends to form into crystals. Research indicates that ZBLAN fiber pulled in microgravity may not crystalize as much, giving it better optical qualities than the silica used in most fiber optic wire.

Source Link:  https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/2421.html

RFoG Optical Networking Unit Transceiver

EMCORE Begins Customer Sampling of New OBI Mitigated RFoG Optical Networking Unit Transceiver

EMCORE Begins Customer Sampling of New OBI Mitigated RFoG Optical Networking Unit Transceiver 19.2 KB

ALHAMBRA, Calif., Oct. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EMCORE Corporation (NASDAQ:EMKR), a leading provider of advanced Mixed-Signal Optics products that provide the foundation for today's high-speed communication network infrastructures and leading-edge defense systems, announced today that it is sampling its new Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) Optical Networking Unit (ONU) Transceiver with key customers for qualification. EMCORE's new RFoG ONU transceiver is an Optical Beat Interference (OBI) mitigated design utilizing the Company's breakthrough Linear Externally Modulated Laser (L-EML^TM).
RFoG technology provides cable Multiple Service Operators (MSOs) the ability to offer a Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) type architecture without changes to standard equipment in the headend or central office. As subscriber density increases, however, OBI signal degradation can present challenges to overall system performance. EMCORE's RFoG ONU transceiver overcomes those obstacles by eliminating the effects of OBI through proprietary upstream laser wavelength management, significantly improving RFoG network performance in high-density customer environments.
EMCORE's RFoG ONU transceiver is compliant with the SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers) RF over Glass specification. It is designed to support standard CATV downstream and upstream transmission bands for voice, video and data signals in single family and multiple-dwelling unit applications. Downstream it receives a 1550 nm forward path optical signal carrying an RF cable television spectrum up to 1.2 GHz, making it compatible with the cable industry's DOCSIS 3.1 standard. For return path, it supports digital upstream transmission operating at 1610 nm that supports a 5-85 MHz spectrum.
"The interest level in our OBI mitigated RFoG ONU following its announcement at ANGACOM has been tremendous," said Gyo Shinozaki, Vice President of Marketing for EMCORE. "Key customers are excited to sample the unit for qualification within their systems. The combination of OBI mitigation and an economically compelling solution make this an attractive option for RFoG."

About EMCORE
EMCORE Corporation is a leading provider of advanced Mixed-Signal Optics products that provide the foundation for today's high-speed communication network infrastructures and leading-edge defense systems. Our optical chips, components, subsystems and systems enable broadband and wireless providers to continually enhance their network capacity, speed and coverage to advance the free flow of information that empowers the lives of millions of people daily. The Mixed-Signal Optics technology at the heart of our broadband transmission products is shared with our fiber optic gyros and military communications links to provide the aerospace and defense markets state-of-the-art systems that keep us safe in an increasingly unpredictable world. EMCORE's performance-leading optical components and systems serve a broad array of applications including cable television, fiber-to-the-premise networks, telecommunications, wireless infrastructure, satellite RF fiber links, navigation systems and military communications. EMCORE has fully vertically-integrated manufacturing capability through its world-class Indium Phosphide (InP) wafer fabrication facility at our headquarters in Alhambra, California and is ISO 9001 certified in Alhambra, and at our facilities in Warminster, Pennsylvania and China. For more information, please visit www.emcore.com.