Self-organizing Wireless Adhoc Network (SWAN)

"Future applications in both shipboard and highly mobile land-based wireless systems will require the capability to automatically configure and reconfigure as required to support rapid instantiation and employment of wireless networks. Current commercialtechnology-both network protocols and available hardware-make industry-standard wireless communications approaches suboptimal for platform and facility use in the military context. In particular, most modern wireless networks do not provide adequatesupport for multicast communication. Trident Systems has previously developed, under SBIR funding, a reliable multicast protocol, intended for tactical networks. The Wireless Reliable Multicast (WiReM) provides reliable multicast transfer at the transportand networks layers. Trident Systems proposes to build upon the successful implementation of WiReM to develop a scalable, self-configuring IP based wireless network protocol which will become the foundation of a future Self-organizing Wireless AdhocNetwork (SWAN). A second element of the SWAN to be conducted under this effort is the development of an innovative cylindrical antenna which can dramatically improve the performance and security of commercial off the shelf wireless LAN solutions thusextending the range and utility of available COTS hardware for military employment. Trident has teamed with SAIC St Petersburg to support the antenna development under this effort. Commerciali