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A free space optical communication system incorporates a kinematic sensor, such as an accelerometer, proximate an optical signal generator or emitter, such as a laser. Kinematic information generated using an output signal from the kinematic sensor is encoded along with a time signal and transmitted

A free space optical communication system incorporates a kinematic sensor, such as an accelerometer, proximate an optical signal generator or emitter, such as a laser. Kinematic information generated using an output signal from the kinematic sensor is encoded along with a time signal and transmitted from the sending node to a receiving node. The receiving node receives the kinematic information and determines a future position and orientation of the sending node. The receiving node makes adjustments to receiving optical component hardware in order to better receive the signal based upon the acceleration data and the time signal.

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1. An apparatus for sending and receiving free space optical signals, comprising: an accelerometer for measuring first acceleration data relating to the apparatus;a timer for providing first time data that is indicative of a time of measurement of the first acceleration data;a data input port for re

1. An apparatus for sending and receiving free space optical signals, comprising: an accelerometer for measuring first acceleration data relating to the apparatus;a timer for providing first time data that is indicative of a time of measurement of the first acceleration data;a data input port for receiving external data from a first external source;an encoder in communication with the accelerometer, the timer and the data input port, the encoder configured for providing an encoded signal comprising the first acceleration data, the first time data, and first payload data, the first payload data based on the external data;an emitter for launching a first optical signal along a free space optical communications pathway, the first optical signal comprising the encoded signal;an optical sensor for sensing a second optical signal that is emitted from a second apparatus, the second apparatus also being an apparatus for sending and receiving free space optical signals;a decoder for extracting from the second optical signal second acceleration data relating to the second apparatus, second time data indicative of a time of measurement of the second acceleration data, and second payload data, the second payload data provided to the second apparatus from a second external source;a processor for determining alignment data for supporting free space optical communication between the apparatus and the second apparatus at a future time; and,an actuator for adjusting an alignment status of the emitter and of the optical sensor based on the alignment data, wherein the alignment data is determined based on the first acceleration data, the first time data, the second acceleration data and the second time data. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a first actuator for adjusting the alignment status of the emitter and a second actuator for adjusting separately the alignment status of the optical sensor. 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emitter comprises: a laser; and,a first optical element for receiving the first optical signal from the laser and for controllably directing the first optical signal along the free space optical communications pathway. 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first actuator is mechanically coupled to the first optical element for controllably adjusting an angle between the first optical element and the laser in dependence upon the alignment data. 5. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensor comprises: a light detector; and,a second optical element for receiving the second optical signal and for controllably directing the second optical signal toward the light detector. 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second actuator is mechanically coupled to the second optical element for controllably adjusting an angle between the second optical element and the light detector in dependence upon the alignment data. 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a data output port in communication with the decoder, the data output port for providing the second payload data from the decoder to the first external source. 8. A method for aligning optical components of a free space optical (FSO) communications system, comprising: measuring first kinematic data using a sensor mounted within a first FSO communications device of the FSO communications system;measuring second kinematic data using a sensor mounted within a second FSO communications device of the FSO communications system;providing the first kinematic data to the second FSO communications device via a previously established FSO communications link;providing the second kinematic data to the first FSO communications device via the previously established FSO communications link;processing the first kinematic data and the second kinematic data locally with respect to the first FSO communications device for determining first alignment data for supporting communication with the second FSO communications device at a future time;processing the first kinematic data and the second kinematic data locally with respect to the second FSO communications device for determining second alignment data for supporting communication with the first FSO communications device at the same future time; and,based on the first alignment data and the second alignment data, adjusting an alignment status of the FSO communications system. 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein adjusting the alignment status of the FSO communications system comprises aligning optical components of the first FSO communications device based on the first alignment data. 10. A method according to claim 8, wherein adjusting the alignment status of the FSO communications system comprises aligning optical components of the second FSO communications device based on the second alignment data. 11. A method according to claim 9, wherein aligning optical components of the first FSO communications device comprises aligning an emitter and an optical sensor of the first FSO communications device with an optical sensor and an emitter of the second FSO communications device, respectively. 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein aligning optical components of the second FSO communications device comprises aligning an emitter and an optical sensor of the second FSO communications device with an optical sensor and an emitter of the first FSO communications device, respectively. 13. A method according to claim 8, wherein providing the first kinematic data to the second FSO communications device comprises launching a first FSO communications signal from the first FSO communications device to the second FSO communications device via the previously established FSO communications link, the first FSO communications signal having encoded thereon the first kinematic data and first time data that is indicative of a time of measurement of the first kinematic data. 14. A method according to claim 8, wherein providing the second kinematic data to the first FSO communications device comprises launching a second FSO communications signal from the second FSO communications device to the first FSO communications device via the previously established FSO communications link, the second FSO communications signal having encoded thereon the second kinematic data and second time data that is indicative of a time of measurement of the second kinematic data. 15. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sensor mounted within the first FSO communications device comprises a first accelerometer, and wherein measuring first kinematic data relating to the first FSO communications device comprises measuring first acceleration data relating to the first FSO communications device. 16. A method according to claim 8, wherein the sensor mounted within the second FSO communications device comprises a second accelerometer, and wherein measuring second kinematic data relating to the second FSO communications device comprises measuring second acceleration data relating to the second FSO communications device. 17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitter is configured to propagate the first optical signal through water and the optical sensor is configured to sense the second optical signal after propagation through water. 18. A method according to claim 13, wherein launching the first FSO communications signal from the first FSO communications device to the second FSO communications device comprises propagating the first FSO communications signal along a path through water between the first FSO communications device and the second FSO communications device. 19. A method according to claim 14, wherein launching the second FSO communications signal from the second FSO communications device to the first FSO communications device comprises propagating the second FSO communications signal along a path through water between the first FSO communications device and the second FSO communications device.