Abstract

The growing number of connected devices has strained traditional radio frequency wireless networks, driving interest in alternative technologies such as optical wireless communications (OWC). Among OWC solutions, optical camera communication (OCC) stands out as a cost-effective option because it leverages existing devices equipped with cameras, such as smartphones and security systems, without requiring specialized hardware. This paper proposes a novel deep learning-based detection and classification model designed to optimize the receiver’s performance in an OCC system utilizing color-shift keying (CSK) modulation. The receiver was experimentally validated using an (Formula presented.) LED matrix transmitter and a CMOS camera receiver, achieving reliable communication over distances ranging from 30 cm to 3 m under varying ambient conditions. The system employed CSK modulation to encode data into eight distinct color-based symbols transmitted at fixed frequencies. Captured image sequences of these transmissions were processed through a YOLOv8-based detection and classification framework, which achieved (Formula presented.) % accuracy in symbol recognition. This high precision minimizes transmission errors, validating the robustness of the approach in real-world environments. The results highlight OCC’s potential for low-cost applications, where high-speed data transfer and long-range are unnecessary, such as Internet of Things connectivity and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Future work will explore adaptive modulation and coding schemes as well as the integration of more advanced deep learning architectures to improve data rates and system scalability. © 2025 by the authors.