Distributed Coherent Communications

Defense operations could benefit immensely from communication systems that make use of small, disaggregated, collaborative elements in contrast to larger elements. However, communications between clusters of such nodes is challenging since the size, weight and power (SWaP) of individual nodes is reduced. Distributed Coherent Communications can address this challenge by forming a virtual array of phase coherent antennas at each cluster. This phase coherence can provide the power gain needed to extend the range or improve the throughput of the communication system. Distributed Coherent Communications, however, poses several challenges – phase coherence must be achieved among nodes with independent hardware, the channel state must be measured between two groups of disaggregated nodes, and coordinated sharing of information must be resolved. These challenges are exacerbated in a realistic operating environment where the nodes could be mobile and widely spaced. Silvus proposes a practical approach to Distributed Coherent Communications between two groups of disaggregated mobile nodes. As an industry leader in MIMO communications, a prime performer on DARPA contracts for distributed communications and a leading provider of MANET solutions, Silvus will leverage its experience with realistic hardware to build a realistic demonstration of this technology.