The Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) is faced with a difficult problem - capturing an ever-increasing volume of test range Time Space Positioning Information (TSPI) over an ever-diminishing spectrum of radio frequencies. AFFTC's secondary goal is to replace current post-mission processing with real-time flight data processing using commercial wireless networking devices. However, the availability of commercial wireless devices that support various range operational demands is practically non-existent. Through this SBIR, Global Science and Technology, Inc. (GST) will leverage available commercial wireless technologies (e.g., CDMA, 3G, IEEE 802.11), and our commercial SCPS implementation (SkipWare), to deliver a robust, wireless TSPI architecture for the AFFTC. GST has been directly involved in the design and implementation of several efficient protocols for space and wireless data communications for over 10 years. We are acutely aware of the obstacles in delivering efficient, reliable information transfer over transient, noisy communications channels. GST will use this experience to construct a robust wireless architecture from the ground up, including the investigation and emulation of available commercial wireless technologies and physical devices, data link layer alternatives, and application layer improvements to complement our SkipWare (SCPS) gateway implementation and deliver a bandwidth-efficient, manageable, easily upgradeable TSPI transmission system. By using emulation tools to experiment with promising protocols and commercial technologies, GST can define a feasible architecture, focus its Phase II activities on refining the prototype architecture, and increase our potential of delivering a functional wireless TSPI solution that satisfies the AFFTC's operational requirements. In doing so, GST will also determine the feasibility of expanding our SkipWare product line into the commercial, mobile wireless marketplace. The resulting commercial applications include Internet access solutions for commercial aircraft passengers; commercial mobile and fixed wireless Internet access and transport services; and bandwidth-efficient protocol gateway products for Government and commercial entities performing Telemetry Tracking and Control (TT&C) applications.
