Autonomous Cognitive Topology Management for highly Mobile Airborne Networks (ACTMAN)

ABSTRACT: Mayflower proposes to develop and demonstrate next generation MANET technology namely, the Autonomous Cognitive Topology Management for highly Mobile Airborne Networks (ACTMAN). ACTMAN represents a comprehensive next generation MANET technology that provides; (1) Low Probability of Intercept (LPI)/ Low Probability of Detection (LPD) topology management which autonomously form, maintain, repair, and optimize the network; (2) Rapid authentication technology that facilitates exceptional level of security assurance in a timely manner; and (3) Effective RF radio transceiver technology that mitigates jamming signals and interferences in a contested spectrum environment. In addition, the ACTMAN technology is designed to cope with high speed mobility, persistent topology changes, and frequent membership changes. These technology components will be implemented with low overhead and will be interoperable with legacy airborne network systems. We have also implemented and demonstrated the functional components of aforementioned capabilities in the Mayflower Tactical MANET Test bed (TMT). In the proposed Phase II SBIR program, the Mayflower team will augment and enrich the ACTMAN technology, test and demonstrate it on the Mayflower TMT with live radios, and will ensure its commercialization via Air Force field test and demonstration in Phase II by working closely with prime contractors. BENEFIT: There is significant interest in autonomous networking capability that can be readily deployed in the realm of disaster relief network where multiple parties may operate jointly with network merge and disconnect during the relief effort, requiring autonomous topology management, rapid authentication, and unintentional radio frequency interference mitigation. The ACTMAN technology would ensure that the networking capability is sustained at all times while protecting the network from unlawful access through secure yet responsive authentication process. The ACTMAN would also effectively alleviate RF inferences among the multiple party concurrent operations and enable opportunistic communication capability through agile spectrum fragmentation technology. Similarly, ACTMAN technology components can be applied to UAV-based ad hoc networks for surveillance and first responders, or it can be applied to home network, campus network, or small enterprise network as ubiquitous-network enabling capabilities