SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The Navy is seeking to modernize its’ Command and Control (C2) networks to speed up the decision-making process and capitalize on the increased bandwidth multi-beam antenna capabilities can offer. Advances in antenna arrays have permitted directional multi-beams to be formed, which hold the promise of higher capacities, increased scalability and less multi-user interference. However, the requirement for a transmitting node and a receiving node to steer their respective beams towards one another necessitates a robust scheduling algorithm to maximize the achievable capacity while minimizing delays. MaXentric Technologies (in conjunction with Dr. Sunil Kumar) proposes MAPNET (Multi-Beam Adaptive Protocol for Network Enhancing Transmission Tolerant to Disruption) effort to provide robust ad-hoc networks for the next generation C2 networks. During Phase I MaXentric will address the requirements of the solicitation by reviewing strategies including, but not limited to: A novel network coding algorithm that makes full use of the multi-beam capabilities of the antennas, while also ensuring fairness of channel access. A GrapeVine solution using opportunistic exchange between potential feed-forward nodes which will increase robustness and tolerance to disruption. High resolution AOA estimation techniques such as Minimum Descriptive Length, and Akaike Information Criteria adapted to hybrid beamformers for neighbor node discovery. MAPNET will leverage MaXentric’s extensive expertise with ad-hoc wireless networks and multi-beam antenna beamforming to provide an innovative solution to the scheduling optimization of a network with multi-beam capable antennas.
