EPISYS SCIENCE INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: SB161-006

Description

The goal of the proposed research is to develop and demonstrate novel algorithms, protocols, and radio hardware design approaches for achieving: (i) robust long-distance maritime communications using low power and realistic antenna apertures, and (ii) dynamic multi-band multi-node ad hoc networking with a high degree of network-level predictability. Specifically, the Phase I Base effort is aimed at designing and demonstrating an innovative digital radio with an electronically small antenna and a frequency agile tuning circuit that will achieve data rates of over 20 Kbits/second across distances of 8,000 km during the day and 4,000 km at night, with less than 50 W of power and significantly improved link predictability and adaptation techniques. The frequency range of operation for the proposed radio design is for the high frequency (HF) band (3 ~ 30 MHz). If the Phase I Option is exercised, we will develop a baseline framework for a comprehensive suite of multi-band Maritime Ad Hoc Networking protocols tailored to the radio design resulting from the Phase I Base effort while leveraging existing dynamic spectrum accesstechniques whereas possible in order to maximize the utility of multiple HF bands and network-level predictability.