Joint Optical Wireless Communication and Localization Using OFDM

In this letter, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an optical wireless communication (OWC) system with embedded localization functionalities based on reflectometry, that share both the OWC hardware platform and the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication waveform. Using a low-cost off-the-shelf laser diode we experimentally demonstrate a joint OWC and sensing system, with data rates of approximately 3.6 Gbit/s with EVM around 8% and simultaneously able to localize targets with non-ideal reflectance surfaces, with 15 cm resolution. Our approach reduces installation and operational costs, alleviates the calibration process, as well as allows for cooperation between communication and localization functionalities at the physical layer.