SBIR-STTR Award

The AhlTek/Cubic Long Reach Drop-in Hotspot (LRDH) concept will revolutionize the manor in which Expanded Maritime Intercept Operations (EMIO) are conducted. With the LRDH enterprise solution, data and voice communications will be conveyed via a mobile airborne wireless mesh network that will allow for rapid dissemination of information to and from warfighters and commanders. LRDH will not only be compatible with existing shipboard networks but will also extend the reach of the Tactical Edge Network (TEN) overall enhancing the Global Information Grid (GIG). By capitalizing on the available commercial products the AhlTek/Cubic team will be able to leverage and enhance these technologies and provide a system that will be able to grow and evolve with the EMIO mission. The LRDH program will utilize small UAVs to allow the system to be utilized by any size warfighter team. With the ability of every team member to have access to a wireless network, the team’s efficiency and safety will increase. The AhlTek/Cubic team consists of subject matter experts from all aspects of the project.

Keywords:
Emio, Uav, Common Operational Picture (Cop), Cots, Mimo, Beam Steering Antenna, Enterprise Solution, Mesh Network

The Long Reach Drop-in Hotspot (LRDH) is a low cost technology that is easily and rapidly deployed to provide broadband Global Information Grid (GIG) connectivity to small teams in remote areas at virtually any time and place. The LRDH offers a low cost mission alternative to expensive resources such as helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and allows commanders to run more missions more effectively while increasing situational awareness and enhancing team safety. The system is inexpensive and easily deployed because it utilizes low cost, man-portable LRDH equipped Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV’s) to form an instant broadband mesh network in the sky. The teams are easy to equip because they use Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops or other standard Wi-Fi devices to access the GIG connectivity. The LRDH Comms Module is an enhanced COTS based technology that includes 2 radios and a high performance directional antenna system. One radio is used to create an Internet Protocol (IP) based communication mesh network in the sky. The second radio provides a downward looking Wi-Fi hotspot that connects with the COTS-equipped teams below. The LRDH technology is applicable to a wide range of military and commercial requirements.

Keywords:
Cots, Manet, Uav, Ten, Vbp, Canes, Gig, Emio,