4 ms·
Is visible light really regulated in the same way as radio? Certainly there aren't frequency allocations or licenses as we'd think of for radio. The regulation
by matthewmcg 4y ago
Is visible light really regulated in the same way as radio? Certainly there aren't frequency allocations or licenses as we'd think of for radio.
The regulations I am aware of relate to safety (laser precautions or FAA requiring markers on tall structures, e.g.), public nuisance, or environmental protection (e.g. for protection of sea turtles or light pollution reduction).
- avar 4y agoIt looks like the details are behind some paywall, but my first thought was whether visual morse code signalling at sea was standardized. From [1] and [2] it turns out it is, but I don't know in what detail. Overall it's probably not as formal as the radio spectrum in being regulated by international convention, but US and EU regulation is a de-facto standard when it comes to things like any external lights on cars, ships, airplanes and other vehicles. Just counting headlights, tail lights, break lights and indicators the average car has at least 10 different sources of light. If you own a car that number of "visual radio" transmitters[3] on your car alone probably outnumbers that other transmission devices you might have, and certainly if we account for "signal strength" (your bluetooth headphones probably don't have a range of many miles, but a car will easily "transmit" light over that distance). 1. https://www.ysmarines.com/marine-lighting/cxd7-cxd7-b-type-morse-code-light/ https://www.ysmarines.com/marine-lighting/cxd7-cxd7-b-type-m... 2. https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/Preventing-Collisions.aspx https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/Preventing-Colli... 3. Radio just being another form of light, and (in this example) light being another form of radio.