Rateless codes implementation, optimization and application to Free Space Optics links affected by optical turbulence

In this work, I have implemented, optimized and tested the most advanced rateless codes available up to now, i.e., RaptorQ codes. In detail, a multiplatform data transmission software has been appositely developed in order to verify the effectiveness of the above-mentioned codes to decrease packet loss and hence to improve the link quality, under different network and channel conditions. Several simulative and experimental investigations have been carried out to evaluate the performance of the encoding and decoding schemes and the relative recovery capabilities under different test scenarios. In particular, I have applied the software embedding RaptorQ codes to Free Space Optics communication links affected by optical turbulence, proving that rateless codes represent a suitable solution to reduce the packet loss occurring during fading events. By properly setting the coding parameters, it is possible to recover most – or even all – of the lost data, under generated weak-to-moderate turbulence conditions or systematically induced interruptions of the optical beam, thus ensuring an error-free data transmission. Hence, I can conclude that rateless codes truly represent an easy-to-implement fading mitigation technique for lossy or congested networks and, in my case, also for Free Space Optics links affected by optical turbulence.