SBIR-STTR Award

The Reliable Affordable Global Communications System for a Nuclear Proliferation Monitoring System (_"RANCON") can provide an effective and flexible means for communicating data from remote unattended sites or inspection teams through satellite data links to one or more analysis, monitoring and control centers. Total cost of such worldwide monitoring is minimized, subject to operational utility constraints, by: (i.) exploiting the minimum per bit transmission cost achieved by low earth orbit satellites supported by a network of gateways, (ii.) minimization of the number of bits transmitted through efficient source compression, (iii.) effective acknowledgement / re-transmission protocol overlaid on the link transmission protocol for messages requiring assured delivery, and (iv.) very low cost innovative terminal equipment capable of reliable unattended operation. The basic terminal, in a different physical package, can be interconnected to a laptop or palmtop computer to provide a battery-powered transportable communications capability for inspection teams anywhere on earth. The RANCON system also offers the opportunity to bypass local communications facilities for the global nuclear proliferation monitoring system, should such a feature be deemed operational. Anticipated Benefits/Potential Applications - Upon completion of a successful Phase II demonstration in 1995, the RANCON could be fielded immediately in support of the global nuclear proliferation monitoring system. The RANCON technology could be applied by the government to a wide variety of operations that would benefit from flexible, low cost data exchange via satellite, such as traffic monitoring, long range logistics support and environmental data collection. Commercial applications include two-way communication for car accident reporting, animal tracking, etc.

The Reliable Affordable global COmmunications system for a Nuclear proliferation monitoring system (RACON) can provide an effective and flexible means for communicating data from remote unattended sites through satellite data links to one or more analysis, monitoring and control centers. The Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) subsystem of RACON provides bulk sensor data transfer continuously and on demand for sensors within view of geostationary satellites. Combining an efficient integrated synchronization, modulation, and coding system, support of "lossless" source compression methods, and an efficient acknowledgement/retransmit protocol, the system yields minimization of the total number of bits transmitted, minimization of the power and bandwidth per bit, and very high reliability that messages reach the necessary destination even with practical outages of individual system components or paths. The efficient link modulation format and protocols, together with the extension of technology recently developed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite terminals, permits inexpensive, low powered, unattended remote site equipment (low cost of operation and maintenance), and easy modification for changes in monitors and sites as required. Phase II includes the complete development of the RACON VSAT subsystem, culminating in a field demonstration involving Primary and Auxiliary Sensor Sites and the International Data Center.

Benefits:
Upon completion of the Phase II demonstration in late 1996, the full RACON system could be fielded immediately in support of the global nuclear proliferation monitoring system. The RACON technology could be applied by the government to a wide variety of operations that would benefit from flexible, lower cost data exchange via satellite: traffic monitoring, long range logistics support, environmental data collection. There are many commercial applications for this low-cost, two-way communications capability: pipeline monitoring and control, remote thin-line data communications for less-developed areas.