What does this research mean for the field?

A vehicle-mounted high-speed visible light communication (VLC) system based on USRP achieves data rates of 500 Mbps over distances of up to 110 meters with low latency and high reliability. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To develop a high-speed, vehicle-mounted visible light communication system that enhances data transmission capabilities using USRP technology.

March 13, 2026Open Access

A Novel Vehicle-Mounted High-Speed VLC Information Transmission System Based on USRP

Key Points

To develop a high-speed, vehicle-mounted visible light communication system that enhances data transmission capabilities using USRP technology.
Combined a modified USRP X310 platform with a custom LED optical transceiver.
Implemented 64QAM-OFDM modulation for efficient data transmission.
Designed active pre-equalization circuitry to extend LED bandwidth from 3 MHz to 120 MHz.
Incorporated automatic gain control to maintain stable output voltage and high SNR.
Conducted simulations for optical design and communication link performance analysis.
Achieved a peak data rate of 500 Mbps at a 10-meter distance with a low bit error rate.
Demonstrated stable link performance with SNR greater than 23 dB over varying distances.
Established communication distance up to 110 meters with minimal latency.
Achieved an end-to-end latency of less than 0.1 seconds.

Abstract

• Core Innovation & Objective • Developed a novel, integrated system architecture combining a modified USRP X310 software-defined radio platform with a custom-designed high-power LED optical transceiver. • Achieved high-speed, low-latency, and highly reliable audio-video transmission over Visible Light Communication (VLC) for intelligent transportation and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) applications, particularly in electromagnetically sensitive environments. • Key Technical Breakthroughs • LED Bandwidth Extension: Designed an innovative active pre-equalization circuit (based on a 4th-order high-pass RC bypass and op-amps) that dramatically increased the 3dB modulation bandwidth of a commercial 15W LED from 3 MHz to 120 MHz. • High-Speed Modulation: Successfully implemented 64QAM-OFDM modulation/demodulation using GNU Radio on the USRP, enabling spectrally efficient data transmission. • Advanced Optical Design: Custom-designed optical lenses (transmitter and receiver) and a high-power Bias-T circuit for efficient AC/DC coupling, ensuring the LED operates in its linear region and maximizing optical power transfer. • Stable Link Performance: Incorporated an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuit at the receiver, stabilizing the output voltage between 1.2V - 2.0V and maintaining a modulation signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) > 23 dB over varying distances. • Outstanding System Performance • The experimentally demonstrated performance metrics are exceptional for a VLC system: • Peak Data Rate: 500 Mbps • Communication Distance: 0 - 110 meters • Bit Error Rate (BER): As low as 1.74 × 10⁻⁵ (far below the 1 × 10⁻⁴ target) • End-to-End Latency: 23 dB optical modulation signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and stable receiver output voltage (1.2–2.0 V). The resulting compact system delivers low latency, high data rates, and high reliability. Under aligned optical path conditions, the system achieves >1 Mbit/s at 110 m (BER 0.49 × 10⁻⁵, delay 0.009-0.05s) and a peak rate of 500 Mbit/s at 10 m (BER 7.4 × 10⁻⁵), with an 11.5° transmit angle and a receiver field of view (FOV) of less than 18°. This work demonstrates the feasibility of high-power LED-based 64QAM-OFDM communication using USRP X310 for medium- to long-range vehicular links, providing a reference for intelligent transportation systems.

A Novel Vehicle-Mounted High-Speed VLC Information Transmission System Based on USRP

Key Points

Abstract

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