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NAVY Selects SDRC to Determine Feasibility of Wireless Communications through Shipboard Bulkheads

SAN DIEGO, California (8/1/2005) - SDRC (San Diego Research Center, Inc.), a leader in wireless network research and system development in the defense sector has been selected by the Navy to determine the feasibly of a magnetic-induction based wireless bridge for use in effectively communicating data through steel wall bulkheads located onboard naval combatants. SDRC's novel hybrid machine-control network architecture enabled by the magnetic modem, promises to help the Navy reduce its manning of future combatants.

John Conkle, SDRC's Principal Investigator (PI) explained, "The Navy has a long term goal of significantly reducing combatant manning requirements.  Two of the ways this will be accomplished is in the use of "smart" machines that operate effectively by making semi-autonomous decisions using a machine control network; and the effective operation of all networked components through battle damage." This capability is facilitated through the development of SDRC's redundant, disruption-tolerant distributed mesh network architectures including optimized routing functionality located at the "edge" of the network. 

The magnetic induction-based approach for the bridge is promising because of its immunity to interference, its support of data rates in excess of those envisioned for a machine control network, its inherent low power needs, and its capability of being developed into a network bridge, quickly and at a low cost.

This Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, entitled "Wireless Sensing for Survivable Machinery Control," is funded at $69,947.

About the SBIR program: The Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and  Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs fund a billion dollars each year in early-stage R&D projects at small technology companies - projects that serve a DoD need and have commercial applications. SBIR and STTR funds are awarded competitively and small companies retain the intellectual property rights to technologies they develop under these programs.

About SDRC: SDRC is a wireless technology research and system development company focusing on challenging and important opportunities in government and commercial communications markets.

Media Contact: Ted Balleras (858) 623-9424 ext. 408 or ted.balleras@argonst.com