Reconfigurable and Adaptive Avionic Sensor Suites

GPS provides time to within 100 ns on a global basis. There exists an opportunity for using GPS to provide a global clock and create an innovative, inexpensive wireless Wide Area Network for efficient communication between mobile platforms. Shawn Systems is proposing to integrate GPS and computer networking technology through an RF medium that can create a host of new and innovative applications. Besides routine message handling, we have given two detailed application examples of how the system responds to unanticipated changes such as Collision Avoidance and Identification of Friend or Foe. This proposal uses three different technologies, viz. GPS, RF telemetry link and a Computing engine, in a unique combination that each of these technologies cannot provide by themselves. Use of COTS components will ease acquisition and lower the cost. Some or all of these technologies are present on a mobile platform, will help make this powerful combination affordable. We have received excellent input from industry and academia and we are seeking government funding/involvement in promoting this network. We have faculty from MIT and UMASS advising us on areas of Aviation Safety and Radio Networks. Our partners in industry, viz. Northrop-Grumman Corp., Raytheon, and Metric Systems Corp. have endorsed our research work, and they will help us in commercialization of the technology. We will also be bringing our expertise in fault tolerance to make the network highly reliable.