Robust Automated Platform for Information Download (RAPID) for Wireless Airborne Data Recovery Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-004 Topic Title: Robust Automated Platform for Information Download (RAPID) for Wireless Airborne Data Recovery Proposal No.: N051-004-0680 Firm: Mayflower Communications Company, Inc. 20 Burlington Mall Road Burlington, Massachusetts 01803 Contact: Triveni Upadhyay Phone: (781) 359-9500 Web Site: www.mayflowercom.com Abstract: Mayflower's RAPID (Robust Automated Platform for Information Download) proposal capitalizes on emerging wireless technologies to reduce the cost of downloading airborne recorder flight data. RAPID builds on our work for the Army on the MINT (Mobile Infostation Network Technology) program, and modifies it to address the Navy requirements of coverage up to 2000 ft at high data rates to support the 1553 data interface as well as the very high speed interfaces, such as IEEE 1394, on future military aircraft. An important Navy objective is low-cost, flight-worthy hardware that can be easily integrated with the onboard flight data recorder. RAPID proposes to enhance the IEEE 802.11a physical layer with smart antenna technologies and an optimized MAC layer to increase the range, robustness, and effective data rates, while retaining the cost advantage. RAPID is anticipated to sustain multiple high data rate links in the presence of high-powered jamming, over distances greater than possible with the baseline commercial technology. The Phase I feasibility study will demonstrate meeting the Navy objectives of low cost, low power consumption, non-interference with aircraft functionality, and an economy of rewiring. In the Phase II program, we will build a prototype RAPID and demonstrate its functionality. Benefits: Wireless LAN (WLAN) devices in the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz unlicensed bands, such as IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g incur interference from other devices in the same frequency band, such as cordless phones and microwaves. Such interference decimates WLAN performance, as anyone with IEEE 802.11g and a 2.4 GHz cordless phone knows: the WLAN connection often cuts out when the cordless phone is being used. The RAPIDS system delivers cost-effective interference protection for IEEE 802.11a, and can be easily extended to IEEE 802.11g. In addition, the RAPIDS system provides significant increases in the range and the data rates of the WLAN. Commercial applications include mobile baby video monitors, wireless video security systems, hi-fi multimedia wireless home network, mobile video conferencing, and mission-critical applications, where it is desired that the wireless link operate reliably in spite of interference. Return