Integrated Communications System-Next

This topic proposes to develop an ICS architecture that will support all current, traditional functions of submarine Interior Communications, add new capabilities based on opportunities afforded by digital signal distribution, and do so with a reduced footprint and significantly improved human factors and reliability. The major areas to be addressed through research into adapting commercial state-of-practice and emerging technologies to the problem area of submarine interior communications are: Implementing a solution that performs all traditional submarine IC functions at lower cost and complexity than the current solution Extending the solution to provide new capabilities to submarine- and Navy-unique problems and issues Creating a data framework that supports future innovation, expansion, and competition between vendors Creating a hardware framework that is designed to address hardware obsolescence to minimize total lifecycle costs