SBIR-STTR Award

Terrain Aware Network Planning Tools
Award last edited on: 11/5/2007

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Army
Total Award Amount
$849,074
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
A03-113
Principal Investigator
Paul Janes

Company Information

OPNET Technologies Inc

7255 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
   (240) 497-3000
   info@opnet.com
   www.opnet.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 08
County: Montgomery

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2004
Phase I Amount
$119,793
The objective of this proposal is to research, develop, and prototype a lightweight network planning tool with an embedded modeling and simulation capability to support future Army tactical communications networks. This new lightweight tool will be notebook computer-based, allowing soldiers on the battlefield to quickly analyze the combined effects of network topology, terrain, propagation, and node mobility to perform dynamic network planning and course of action studies. The Army’s Objective Force (OF) and Future Combat Systems (FCS) Programs will enable the Warfighter to conduct network-centric warfare with multiple communications assets to achieve information superiority and mission success. A lightweight, simple to use, network planning tool will enable the Warfigther to design and provision tactical mobile ad hoc networks, rapidly validate and verify networks on the move, and study alternative courses of action based on the battle plan, node mobility, situational awareness, RF propagation, and terrain data. Modeling and simulation (M&S) offers many benefits to the DoD including the ability to evaluate and optimize C4ISR systems in a variety of pre- and post-deployment scenarios. Currently, there is no available COTS M&S software that can effectively utilize terrain, propagation, node mobility, weather, network topology, and traffic data to support the Army’s requirements for rapid network planning using a lightweight, field deployable PC. OPNET’s proposal focuses on approaches to solve this problem (based on simulation techniques and non-simulation based point tools) and also describes key attributes of the prototype Terrain Aware Network Planning Tool that will result from this Phase I SBIR program.

Benefits:
The successful conclusion of Phase I will result in a demonstrable prototype Terrain Aware Network Planning Tool that addresses many of DoD’s anticipated requirements (i.e., lightweight, portable, easy to use, and capable of rapid, dynamic network planning to support C4ISR operations and communications on the move). The R&D that results from this Phase I project will provide a significant enhancement to OPNET’s COTS product line, providing customers with lightweight, portable communications network planning technology that will combine communications effects (topology, terrain, propagation, weather, foliage, etc.) with embedded modeling and simulation to rapidly design and validate mobile and fixed wireless networks. This capability does not exist today for wireless networks and will be of great value to the Department of Defense, commercial and federal enterprise customers, and will have direct application in warfare simulation and C4ISR system optimization. In addition, the R&D that results from this Phase I project is directly applicable to the following dual use commercial applications: · Enterprise networks · Public access networks · Emerging wearable personal computing and wireless communications technologies · Fire/safety/rescue communications networks · Mobile IP networking · MANETs · Transportation networks · Personal communications networks

Keywords:
Terrain Aware Network Planning Future Combat Systems Objective Force Embedded Modeling and Simulation C4ISR Planning, Optimization, and 3D Visualization Notebook Computer Based Network Planner Mobile Ad Hoc Wireless Networks Hybrid Simulation in OPNET

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2006
Phase II Amount
$729,281
OPNET software provides the unique ability to combine two distinct modeling techniques (analytical and discrete event simulation) to provide a ìhybridî simulation that allows balance and control between accuracy and run time performance. Hybrid simulation offers the ability to achieve both accuracy and fast runtime, whereas purely analytical simulation offers very short run times and lower accuracy, and purely discrete event simulation (DES) offers higher accuracy and longer run times. Both fast run times and accuracy are a requirement for modeling large complex military networks, as well as for operational mission planning. OPNET believes that a paradigm shift in wireless network modeling can produce performance gains that are several orders of magnitude greater than parallel simulation, enabling large, complex, and highly accurate simulations to be performed. This belief was proven through the research and prototyping efforts developed under Phase I of this SBIR project. During Phase II of this SBIR project, OPNET will develop operational hybrid simulation algorithms to model wireless networks and systems and apply those algorithms to existing WIN-T network, device, and process models. OPNET will design, build, and test the proposed wireless hybrid simulation algorithms and compare them to the accuracy achieved using DES for the existing WIN-T models.

Keywords:
Modeling, Simulation, Wireless Hybrid Simulation, Discrete Event Simulation, Mobile Ad Hoc Networks, Win-T, Network Planning, Terrain Aware Network Pl