Paratroopers and air-dropped supplies play a critical role in rapid deployment of Army manpower, firepower, and supplies almost anywhere in the world.Typically, a squad or platoon and their supplies are involved in an operation, with the intention that once on the ground, they can regroup (locate each other, locate the supplies) and then execute their mission. This regrouping of the team can be difficult, as team members and equipment can land dispersed over wide areas, local terrain and vegetation can limit visibility, and paratroopers may not observe the relative landing location of others. Paratrooper Location And Tracking Operations (PLATO) is conceived to provide accurate and precise location data for paratroopers and air-dropped supplies, through descent, landing, and providing navigation post-landing as they regroup. PLATO can operate in the absence of GPS, providing relative location, or can propagate absolute coordinates if the departure aircraft has access to position data.
