SBIR/STTR Award attributes
To address the Air Force’s need for data storage and sharing technologies, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) has designed new Heuristic And Node Dynamic Sharing Technologies for Aerial Network Data (HANDSTAND) and implemented a proof-of-concept prototype during Phase I. HANDSTAND ensures data availability by incorporating storage redundancy, which enables replication of data on aerial network platforms that are relatively uncongested and protected. The nodes for data replication are selected by considering threat proximity/type and network communication environment including node reliability/capacity, link reliability/capacity, and data priority. Data security is implemented in HANDSTAND by using a DoD-compliant security suite for software data at rest (DAR) and data in transit (DIT). Innovative encryption/ decryption and key distribution strategies in HANDSTAND are designed to ensure high availability. In Phase I, POC developed a system design of airborne network data storage and sharing technologies, with DIT/DAR protection. The design was implemented in a prototype, and HANDSTAND benefits were quantified using analysis and simulations specifically focusing on the security and accessibility/availability tradeoffs. In Phase II, POC will implement the HANDSTAND system in hardware and demonstrate the gains in a representative environment, reaching TRL-6. A Technology Transition Plan (TTP) for implementing a mature system design will be developed.
