SBIR-STTR Award

The objective of the proposed effort is to perform the research necessary to develop generic system of systems (SoS) hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) interfaces for evaluation of early warning receiver (EWR) geolocation technologies with respect to network centric warfare (NCW) connectivity. NST presents innovative interface connectivity and real-time test technologies necessary to support laboratory testing of Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) network enabled sensors and electronic combat systems in synthetic battlespace environments. NST proposes a Real-Time NCW Evaluation Test System (RTNETs) to achieve a reconfigurable, multi-terminal network to interface single / multiship RF stimulators, GPS RF simulators, advanced geolocation receivers and high fidelity platform avionics navigation systems (fighters, UAVs) including network-centric warfare interfaces to platform and weapon data links with emphasis on single and multiship geolocation testing. The proposed research will address the HITL transition and application to low cost weapons of opportunity utilizing advance third party targeting techniques. Issues regarding multiship geolocation receiver test mechanization, network timing, latencies, trajectories, multiple platform position handoff errors and data link / messages will be addressed as well as proposed test environment changes. Ultimately, the resulting research will support concept demonstrations necessary to test interfaces prior to flight testing.

Keywords:
Gps Ins Navigation, Hardware-In-The-Loop, Hitl, Network Centric, Link-16, Real-Time, Stimulator, Simulator, Uav, Coordinated, Simulations

There is a need for cost effective real-time flexible tools, methodologies, establishment of HITL interface standards to promote development, concept exploration, test and transition of digital warning receivers systems for Network-Centric Warfare operations. Integration of NCW technologies into a System of Systems (SoS) hardware-In-the-loop (HIL) environment for evaluation of receiver technologies requires a broad scope of software tools, methodologies, interfaces and technologies necessary to stimulate, evaluate and explore data synergy concepts for exploitation of geolocation technologies. A scalable and flexible SoS real-time HIL system capable of correlating EW RF with multiple inertial platform simulations / avionics and network centric data streams to other SoS components is required to explore network centric opportunities while reducing associated test costs. The Phase II project will evolve the Phase I research and technologies by adding re-useable software and EW stimulator hardware synchronization methods, scalable aircraft platform models, aircraft INS simulations, aircraft net-centric communications methods, aircraft wing antenna disturbance models, network-centric geo-based messaging from physical / virtual entities and connectivity to the WPAFB VCL. The Phase II product will consist of a real-time controller and suite of highly integrated network aware subsystems compatible with current IDAL simulators and those currently in IDAL development stages.

Keywords:
Network Centric Warfare, Simulation And Modeling, Real-Time, Hardware-In-The-Loop, Hitl, Gps, Ins, Ew