Phase II Amount
$1,699,112
Key adaptations that this TACFI opportunity would allow for within the solution developed under a Phase II in the 19.2 round include the following: WiFi 6E Chipset integration: Integrating the newest WiFi 6E (802.11ax) technologies from Qualcomm into the SDR Mesh Networking Smart Radio would rapidly introduce a number of powerful, new capabilities. Among them is a suite of Multi-User MIMO features that allow for more simultaneous users, better network efficiency (more channels available), and lower power consumption. Introduction and Use of Beamforming Benefits of Incorporating Beaming Forming into the Current SDR Mesh Networking Smart Radio: 1. Beamforming would boost the power of transmissions in desired directions, thereby extending link distances and that of communications. 2. Reduced power of transmissions for nearby nodes, thereby reducing power consumption and interference issues while also decreasing enemy identification capabilities. 3. Better performance in noisy environments with a lot of interference like a 5th Generation battlefield. 4. 802.11ax devices use beamforming techniques to direct packets simultaneously to spatially diverse users. The AP calculates a channel matrix for each user and steers simultaneous beams to different users, each beam containing specific packets for its target user. 5. 802.11ax supports sending up to eight multi-user MIMO transmissions at a time, up from four for 802.11ac. 6. Each MU-MIMO transmission may have its own Modulation and Coding Set (MCS) and a different number of spatial streams. By way of analogy, when using MU-MIMO spatial multiplexing, the AP could be compared to an Ethernet switch that reduces the collision domain from a large computer network to a single port.
