Sony
Overview
Founded in 1988, Sony Computer Science Laboratories (CSL) originally focused on fundamental research in computer systems, including operating systems, the Internet, and user interfaces. The organization eventually shifted its focus to exploring ways to use computers in other diverse domains including systems biology, econophysics and artificial intelligence. Sony CSL has grown in scope and scale to develop scientific, technical and technological solutions which benefit society across a wide range of fields and industries.
Sony CSL is researching and developing an optical communications system that would be installed on small satellites to transmit large volumes of data over long distances. The system utilizes the optical disk technology that Sony has employed in household devices such as CD and Blu-ray players. The goal of the Small Optical Link (SOL) Project is to establish a real-time, mass-data communication system for future inter-satellite communications and communications with ground stations with fine-pointing control technology. Satellites can utilize this long-distance optical communications technology to create full-fledged internet networks. This creates great promise for regions of the world that do not yet have internet connections, and to allow humanity to live in new places and carry out new activities in space. On September 25, 2019, SOLISS was launched to the ISS and in-orbit optical communication experiments are underway. [1]
SOLISS Downlink to OGS
Sony CSL and KSAT have successfully demonstrated optical downlinks from the Small Optical Link for the International Space Station (SOLISS) to the KSAT commercial OGS in Greece. This provided a step toward small and affordable laser communication terminals for both ground and space. SOLISS is a small optical communications terminal currently attached to the ISS for technology demonstration that is jointly developed by Sony CSL and JAXA. The KSAT OGS in Greece is the first station of the Optical Nucleus Network, an informal collaboration between space agencies and industry that is going to make available an OGS network to serve optical terminals in space. [2]
Sony Space Communications Corporation (“SCC”)
In June of 2022, Sony Group Corporation announced that the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, formed Sony Space Communications Corporation (“SCC”). SCC plans to develop optical communications devices to connect smallsats in LEO as well as between satellites and ground terminals. The space based optical communications systems will supplement ground-based networks. [3]