Mid-Air Collision Avoidance System (MCAS) Using Mode 5

The approached described within this proposal focuses on the identification andanalysis of existing data sources and their targeted users, coupled with thedevelopment of a prototype client-server network and user application. The resultsfrom the data sources and user analysis will provide us with valuable data to beused for testing purposes during Phase I. Also, the information will give us ajump-start in developing the complete system during Phase II. The prototype networkand application resulting from Phase I will demonstrate the capabilities of theclient-server network. Results will demonstrate the ability for remote users,regardless of bandwidth limitations, to access, view, fuse, and manipulate datafrom multiple sources. Emphasis will be placed on the layout of the network, thenecessary hardware, the development of a user application, and techniques to limitthe amount of data that actually needs to be physically moved. A detaileddescription of how the network will be laid out will be presented, along with howthe software will be developed to bring together the entire network.Anticipated benefits include order of magnitude improvement in data managementcapabilities of remote users restricted by low bandwidth communications channels.Commercial opportunities exist in providing access to data at locations, especiallythird-world countries, where the data communications infrastructure is rudimentaryor non-existent and low-bandwidth satellite communications is the only option.