Bio-Inspired Autonomic Airborne Infrastructure (Bio-A2I)

This project challenges conventional assumptions being made on future airborne networking for both manned and unmanned platforms such as sparse connectivity, sensor-centric mission, and single-mode communication per platform. In particular, this project pursues high-risk, high-payoff forward-looking concepts on future airborne networking by postulating a network comprised of thousands of long persistence heterogeneous platforms that provide end to end connectivity via a series of short, low power hops. The proposed architecture consists of three key technologies: Hybrid MAC (HyMAC), Multi-Channel Radio and Topology Control (MCR-TC), and Digital Hormone Model (DHM) augmented with Criticality-Sensitive Control (CSC). The resulting system architecture will support heterogeneous capabilities of the airborne nodes. HyMAC will enable seamless and efficient channel bandwidth allocation even when the airborne infrastructure consists of a mix of omni-directional and directional antenna airborne nodes. MRC-TC and DHM/CSC will offer extremely efficient, autonomous mechanism to cluster/decluster nearby airborne assets as well as allocating communication resources based on dynamic traffic demands, mission objectives, and system constraints if any. The feasibility of the proposed Bio-A2I system will be demonstrated via extensive simulation study and system prototype software development on the latest wireless emulation testbed to ensure smooth transition to relevant tactical programs of record.