Security of Acquisition, Tracking and Pointing Protocols for Mobile Free Space Optical Communications

The goal of this project is to investigate the security of acquisition, tracking, and pointing (ATP) protocols in mobile free-space optical (FSO) communication systems such as those employed for the communication between satellites and ground stations. The research aims to design and implement an experimental laboratory platform capable of emulating realistic mobile FSO links and evaluating their resilience against a range of potential attacks, including signal interception, jamming, spoofing, and misalignment manipulation. By analyzing vulnerabilities within the ATP control loop and assessing their impact on link stability, availability, and data confidentiality, the study seeks to identify critical weaknesses and propose effective countermeasures. The outcomes are expected to contribute to the development of more robust and secure mobile FSO communication architectures, supporting their deployment in high-reliability applications such as autonomous systems, satellite links, and secure wireless backhaul networks.