Robust Maritime Ad hoc Networking (ROMAN) with HF Meta Cognitive Radios (HAMCOR)

The goal of the proposed research is to develop and demonstrate novel algorithms, protocols, and radio hardware design approaches for achieving: (i) robust long-distance maritime communications using low power and realistic antenna apertures, and (ii) dynamic multi-band multi-node ad hoc networking with a high degree of network-level predictability. Specifically, the Phase I Base effort is aimed at designing and demonstrating an innovative digital radio with an electronically small antenna and a frequency agile tuning circuit that will achieve data rates of over 20 Kbits/second across distances of 8,000 km during the day and 4,000 km at night, with less than 50 W of power and significantly improved link predictability and adaptation techniques. The frequency range of operation for the proposed radio design is for the high frequency (HF) band (3 ~ 30 MHz). If the Phase I Option is exercised, we will develop a baseline framework for a comprehensive suite of multi-band Maritime Ad Hoc Networking protocols tailored to the radio design resulting from the Phase I Base effort while leveraging existing dynamic spectrum accesstechniques whereas possible in order to maximize the utility of multiple HF bands and network-level predictability.