Delivering Innovation to the Front Lines
Written by Marty Kauchak
One representative effort is the Deployable Satellite Communication Terminal program. The initiative is addressing mission shortfalls presented by the use of conventional satellite terminals—which are limited by gain, due to limited dish size, or portability, due to excessive size. The initiative evolved out of the command’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program support to the Missile Defense Agency.
“The Deployable Satellite Communication Terminal is a large-aperture inflatable satellite antenna system that delivers portable, high-bandwidth communications for data, voice and video in remote environments,” Gary Mayes, deputy chief, Advanced Technology Division, ASMDC/ARTSTRAT Technical Center, told MSMF. He added, “The system offers unprecedented bandwidth for a small package solution by quickly and easily deploying large aperture satellite capability with minimal packaged volume. The combination of portability and performance makes the antenna ideal for remote, high-bandwidth satellite communications for use by first-in operators, contingency and emergency personnel.”
The system’s inflatable design provides comparable size, and therefore performance, relative to heavier, rigid conventional communication systems, but is packaged in a fraction of the volume. “The entire system can be transported in as few as two airline checkable cases for the 1.8- or 2.4- meter system terminals. This provides higher gain and performance relative to small-dish terminals and offers a significant advantage in transportability over rigid largedish terminals,” Mayes added.
The prime contractor for the Deployable Satellite Communication Terminal program is Huntsville-based GATR Technologies.
The program is in SBIR Phase III, with GATR Technologies focused on commercialization of the technology. Through the Phase III program, five different organizations have received a GATR system for field testing and evaluation.
The Air Force Research Laboratory also contributed significantly to the materials development aspect of the technology. The system is now FCC-certified.
IED ROUTE CLEARANCE
ASMDC/ARSTRAT is also seeking solutions to counter the vexing challenge of IED route clearance.
The ORTHONSensor Fusion System (O-SFS) is a command’s science and technology (S&T) program to leverage expertise in sensor exploitation, multi-sensor fusion and systems engineering from within the space community to support the counter-IED fight. “The O-SFS program is examining new techniques for fusing real-time sensor data with other IED information sources to enhance the warfighter’s situational awareness of potential IED hot spots within areas of operation,” Julia Williams, program director, ORTHON Sensor Fusion System, ASMDC/ARTSTRAT Technical Center, told MSMF.
The command’s objective is to demonstrate the value of fusing multiple orthogonal (ORTHON) sensors to detect IEDs in route clearance scenarios as opposed to using only a single sensor. “Specifically our goal is to increase detection probabilities while reducing false alarm rates to manageable levels. All of this has to be done in real time on a moving ground vehicle with an operator in the decision loop. We focus on developing a new fusion schema with robust algorithms rather than on developing sensors. The idea is for us to work the fusion problem, in parallel with other sensor development activities,” Williams pointed out.
The program, which began in June 2007, has included two field demonstrations with several more planned in the near term. “Our counter-IED fusion technology portfolio continues to evolve, and we have become a versatile S&T testbed asset,” Williams said.
ASMDC/ARSTRAT Technical Center executes the O-SFS program using a diverse team of nine companies spread across the country. In addition, the command is supported by U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center-Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate, Army Modeling and Simulation Analysis Activity, and the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center. The S&T program is funded by the Joint IED Defeat Organization. ♦