Cognitive Tactical Communication Networks

Cognitive Radio (CR ) has been an intensive topic of research in recent years. Its main applications range from the utilization of TV white spaces to interoperability between large communication systems in all layers. Tactical communication systems that have to operate in hostile radio environments with interference, jamming and rapidly changing network topology share many common challenges with civilian cognitive radio. This has been recognized by defence organizations, and many related research activities have also targeted the utilization of cognition in tactical communications.

The EB Tactical Wireless IP Network (TAC WIN) is a mobile ad hoc network solution (MANET ) with wireless broadband connectivity that can be deployed in any location. With the EB TAC WIN system, battle groups can create high-data-rate IP networks with wireless functionality as a backbone to support data and voice transmissions during operations. TAC WIN can be deployed as an independent network or as part of a larger operative network. EB TAC WIN combines the expertise of Elektrobit (EB) in physical air interface, including both waveform and radio channel knowledge, Software Defined Radio (SDR ) implementation and exceptional versatility to support a great variety of applications and physical equipment connected to the same flexible and dynamic mobile ad hoc network with high-speed connections comparable to commercial Internet services.

Cognitive radio (CR) systems obtain information about their environment to adjust their operation adaptively to provide required services to end users. Regarding spectrum use, future wireless systems equipped with cognitive radio capabilities could dynamically access new frequency bands, and at the same time protect higher-priority users on the same bands from harmful interference. For future mobile communication systems, cognitive radio techniques present a promising opportunity for cost-efficient access to spectrum bands to meet growing user demand. The emergence of CR techniques, especially in the terrestrial domain, has recently played a significant role in wireless research.