Application of Inexpensive Wireless Video Sensor Systems in the Battlefield

This Phase II proposal is for the design, development and prototyping of two inexpensive wireless video sensor network systems--an Adaptive Multihop Wireless Wi-Fi Video Network and an Ad-Hoc Mote-Based Wireless Video Network. This proposal is a follow-on to the successful completion of the Phase I contract, which determined that a conventional sensor field employing seismic/acoustic/magnetic sensing modalities, while effective in establishing target's geo-location in a battlefield environment, was sufficient for exact target identification. The video capture capability of the Phase II's Wireless Video Network System would complement the seismic/acoustic/magnetic sensor modalities in providing a video identification and authentication of a potential threat, which is ultimately needed before any counter action can be taken. The probability of false detection and false alarm would be mitigated by these proposed video capture systems. The proposed video sensor systems include design and development of unique video transmission and relay hardware, and robust software architecture and protocols to ensure rapid and accurate video packet distribution and broadcast. Several novel software concepts such as distributed lookup, dynamic adaptation, and video active connectors will be established. Advanced hardware system integration and software architecture are part of the technical solution to these wireless video sensing systems.