Connectivity Technologies for the Warfighter Network Using Smart Radio

DoD networks require increased digital bandwidth to wirelessly connected users, and is deploying a family of new software-defined radios (SDR) and networks called Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), based on the Software Communications Architecture (SCA). Current mobile ad hoc networking (MANET) approaches focus on homogeneous collections of devices. JTRS waveforms can allow internetworking gateway layers that integrate multiple, incompatible radio devices and networks. JTRS waveforms such as Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) and Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) employ modular components, such as routing algorithms, which can be replaced with improved versions to be developed under this SBIR. In Phase I we conduct requirements analysis, define wireless networking architectures and develop initial designs that provide high bandwidth, energy efficient, communication links between disparate wireless networks. We identify the best two routing algorithms employing location awareness for minimum-energy routing and Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) to establish cost-effectiveness, using MATLAB and SIMULINK to simulate their performance. We leverage our SCA compatible "Smart Radio" prototype currently being developed under an AFRL sponsored Phase II SBIR. We will embed our new algorithms as a component of our SCA waveform stack, which shares many common components with WNW and SRW. This guarantees smooth technology transfer to JTRS waveforms.