Raytheon BBN Technologies has successfully demonstrated the transmission of voice and data across a wireless mobile network in steady flux, to simulate the challenges faced during frontline communications.
The demonstration is part of the wireless network after next (WNaN) programme sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
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Raytheon BBN Technologies WNaN principal investigator Jason Redi said the results prove that WNaN works in the field with affordable, commercially available radios.
“With these results, we are one step closer to getting this much-needed, first-of-its-kind technology to the battlefield and putting a reliable network in the hands of every warfighter,” he said.
WNaN network establishes a wireless network that adapts to changing conditions and enables soldiers to communicate on the field despite frequent disruptions and high demand.
The network software operates in sync with radio hardware developed by Cobham.
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By GlobalDataDuring the demonstration, ten WNaN mobile handheld radios participated in multiple, simultaneous call groups and delivered situational awareness data despite communications disruptions.
The experiment also proved the network’s ability to avoid interference from hostile signals and continue operation even when large numbers of soldiers try to use the channel at once.
In addition, the demo validated the network’s software which automatically assigns the best frequencies to warfighters while in motion and its capable of relaying voice transparently over more than four different network radios.
