Rita Mahon
Papers
2
Total Citations
22
H-Index
2
About
Rita Mahon’s research focuses on free-space optical communication, with a particular emphasis on modulating retroreflectors for small robotic platforms and interspacecraft links. Her major contributions include pioneering the use of modulating retroreflectors to enable high-bandwidth, bidirectional optical data links for small robots operating in environments where radio frequency (RF) links are impractical. This work, detailed in her most-cited paper (2009, 15 citations), demonstrates how compact, low-power optical systems can return video and other data from dangerous areas, advancing the capabilities of autonomous systems in hazardous settings. Additionally, her 2004 paper (7 citations) introduces a novel concept for optical interrogation, communication, and navigation between pursuer and target spacecraft, using a gimbaled laser and an array of solid-state multiple quantum well modulating retroreflectors. This innovation addresses challenges in interspacecraft coordination, offering a lightweight, efficient alternative to traditional RF systems. Mahon’s research has been instrumental in bridging optical communication with robotics and space navigation, earning recognition for its practical applications in defense, exploration, and remote sensing. Her work continues to inspire new approaches to high-speed, low-power optical links in constrained environments.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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