Tactical Communications Research Articles

Research on Communication Reconnaissance Information Processing and Fusion

In complex electromagnetic signal environment, the reconnaissance equipments in tactical communication system can uninterruptedly reconnoiter a variety of enemy’s communication signals as well as access a number of characteristic parameters of time, frequency and space domain by searching analysis, feature extraction, direction finding and comprehensive identification. After a series of signal processing, data mining and information fusion, we can get the characteristic parameters of the electromagnetic spectrum of the enemy’s reconnaissance equipments, which provide the basis for analysis and estimation of electromagnetic situation in battlefield. In this paper a multi-hierarchical blackboard model is proposed for multi-sources communication reconnaissance information mining and fusion and the effectiveness of the method is validated in simulation environment.

Study and Fabrication of Filter Film in Tactical Optical Fiber Communication System

The development of optical fiber transmission technology provides a broad application prospect for the communication of real-time battlefield information. The information could be communicated between the front and headquarters through the cable by using tactical optical fiber communication system, which ensures the missions of military intelligence communicated and tactical real-time arrangement are completed successfully. According to the requirements of multiplexer for military tactical optical fiber communication system, the filters with low-loss have been developed. Filters are prepared by the depositing method of dual ion beam sputtering, Nb2O5 and SiO2 have been chosen as deposition materials, and the filter film is designed and optimized with the help of TFCalc software. In order to broaden the shortwave cutoff region of the filter, the long-wave pass film have been added behind the initial film, and the thickness of the matching layers have been optimized, which based on the concept of equivalent refractive index, the insertion loss of the pass-band of the filter has been reduced. The optical extreme value method and average time method have been used to control layers thickness, and the problem of the layers thickness accuracy controlling have been solved by using the method of real-time calibration of the deposition rate and the repeatability of parameters accurately control. The transmission spectrum of the filter has been tested, which demonstration that the center wavelength of the filter is 1511.2nm, the width of the filters pass band is 17.1nm and 23.5nm in the region of-0.5dB and-35dB respectively, the worst insertion loss within pass band region is-0.1dB, the ripple of the pass band is 0.06dB. The results show that the preparation of the filter meets the using requirements of military tactical fiber optic communication system well.

Direct Growth of RuO2 Nano-Architectures on Current Collectors and Their Improved Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries have application in wide range of portable devices like cell phones, portable computers, camcorders, I-pods, peristaltic pumps, heart assist devices, oil and gas pipeline robots, seismic survey sensors, tactical communication radios and thermal imaging equipment, and satellite power sources.1,2 They are now projected to automotive industry for electric vehicles (EV’s) and hybrid electric vehicles.3 The common electrode materials of conventional lithium ion batteries are graphite (anode), and LiCoO2 or LiFePO4 (cathode). They have certain limitations such as low capacities, safety issues and cost which hinder their applications.2 RuO2 plays an important role in the family of metal oxides because of its interesting properties such as metallic conductivity, high chemical and thermal stability, catalytic activities, electrochemical redox properties, and field emitting behavior.4 It is one of the most successful electrode material for supercapacitors because of its wide potential window of highly reversible redox reactions, remarkably high specific capacitance, and a very long cycle life.5 In this material, conversion reaction using nanoparticles is also possible and high capacity of 1130 mAh g-1, corresponds to the storage of 5.6 moles of Li ions per mole of RuO2 and high coulombic efficiency (98%) has been observed.6But the material can withstand up to only three cycles due to a large volume expansion.We have improved the cycle life performance of RuO2 by directly depositing the material on stainless steel current collectors via low pressure chemical vapor deposition. RuO2 nano-architectures were characterized by powder x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope. Galvanostatic charge-discharge experiments were performed versus lithium metal in the voltage range 4 - 0.1V. As deposited RuO2 nano-architectures were cycled well over 20 cycles at high capacity beyond the theoretical limit of 806 mAh g-1(Fig. 1). The origin of the extra capacity will be discussed. Acknowledgements:This work was supported by NSF PREM Award Number DMR-0934111 and NSF-EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement No EPS-1003897

Occupy Oakland and #oo: Uses of Twitter within the Occupy movement

Social media have become crucial tools for political activists and protest movements, providing another channel for promoting messages and garnering support. Twitter, in particular, has been identified as a noteworthy medium for protests in countries including Iran and Egypt to receive global attention. The Occupy movement, originating with protests in, and the physical occupation of, Wall Street, and inspiring similar demonstrations in other U.S. cities and around the world, has been intrinsically linked with social media through location–specific hashtags: #ows for Occupy Wall Street, #occupysf for San Francisco, and so on. While the individual protests have a specific geographical focus–highlighted by the physical occupation of parks, buildings, and other urban areas — Twitter provides a means for these different movements to be linked and promoted through tweets containing multiple hashtags. It also serves as a channel for tactical communications during actions and as a space in which movement debates take place.This paper examines Twitter’s use within the Occupy Oakland movement. We use a mixture of ethnographic research through interviews with activists and participant observation of the movements’ activities, and a dataset of public tweets containing the #oo hashtag from early 2012. This research methodology allows us to develop a more accurate and nuanced understanding of how movement activists use Twitter by cross–checking trends in the online data with observations and activists’ own reported use of Twitter. We also study the connections between a geographically focused movement such as Occupy Oakland and related, but physically distant, protests taking place concurrently in other cities. This study forms part of a wider research project, Mapping Movements, exploring the politics of place, investigating how social movements are composed and sustained, and the uses of online communication within these movements.

Using of tactical and communication activities by the polygraph-experts during the instrumental diagnos-tics of reliability of the verbal information

The article discusses issues concerning the using of tactical communication activities by the polygraph-experts to participants of the psycho-physiological examination to verify the verbal information regarding the event of crime. The authors define the features of tactical communications activities, as well as proposing concrete ways of their improving.

Warfighter auditory situation awareness: Effects of augmented hearing protection/enhancement devices and TCAPS for military ground combat applications

Objective: To determine the effects of current hearing protection/enhancement devices (HPEDs) and tactical communications and protection systems (TCAPS) on auditory detection and identification of three critical military signals associated with potential “threats.” Design: Utilizing a 6 × 3 within-subject experimental design, 24 normal-hearing Virginia Tech Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets and active duty soldiers participated. Study sample: Five HPEDS and TCAP devices plus the open ear were tested. On each trial, either wearing a device or with open ears, subjects walked along a 3000-foot line of discrete distance markers toward the auditory threat, which was not visible but still within line-of-sight over flat terrain, stopping to listen when instructed. On approach to the threat, the linear distance at first detection was measured, followed by a continued approach until positive identification occurred. Then the subject reversed direction, retreating away from the threat until detection was lost. Results: ANOVA and post hoc tests were applied to determine statistically-significant differences among HPEDs, TCAPS, and the open ear on the objective detection and identification distance measures. Conclusions: The results have serious implications for selection of HPDs, HPEDs, and TCAPS for applications where preservation of auditory situational awareness via the fundamental detection and identification tasks are essential.

The International Anti-Money Laundering Regime and Its Adoption by Vietnam

The international anti-money laundering (AML) regime has developed and diffused rapidly in the last two decades. Most developing countries have engaged with the international AML regime under pressure from other states rather than on a voluntary basis.1Establishing the national AML regime in these countries in compliance with international standards is very expensive, while the benefits are elusive.2This paper reveals that the adoption of basically similar AML norms by many developing countries results from the global diffusion of the international AML regime through two major mechanisms: coercion (by powerful economies and international institutions) and socialization (through tactical communications). This paper points out that although the AML regime of Vietnam was established under external coercion and socialization, domestic factors determine the extent of compliance with international standards. In Vietnam, a determinative factor is the political willingness of the Communist Party in fighting money laundering.

Performance Enhancements in MIL-STD-188-220-Based Tactical Communication Systems

MIL-STD-188-220 standard specifies protocols for narrowband and voice-based tactical communication devices. However, the future tactical communication devices require broadband services for accurate command and control. In this letter, the enhancement for MIL-STD-188-220-based systems is proposed for use over wideband channels. Unlike the operation defined in the standard, transmissions in Bump-Slots uses P-Persistence method and give the higher p to stations experiencing longer delays. The proposed method is extensively evaluated and the performance enhancements are proved.

Stochastic Analysis and Modeling of a Tree-Based Group Key Distribution Method in Tactical Wireless Networks

A number of key management challenges are encountered when operating tactical communication systems using a group-wide shared key. A large portion of such communications occurs over low bit-rate channels, and all communication channels must be available at any moment for mission action. Current over-the-air rekeying protocols consume too much channel bit-rate to be practical for large tactical radio networks. This caused an off-line pre-placed key (PPK) approach to become most commonly used key distribution method in these environments. Unfortunately, with this key management scheme, revoking group membership requires a full intra-mission rekey, which can be dangerous in a battlefield situation. This paper introduces a new group key distribution method called Viral Electronic Key Exchange (VEKE). This paper examines the protocol as an extension to the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol, but any electronic key exchange protocol can be used (Ex. IKE v2). A feature of this protocol is a parallel key distribution scheme enabled by propagating the key management role to authenticated nodes while establishing security associations across the network. We performed a comprehensive stochastic analysis to develop a model for computing the expected rekey time across the entire group, taking into account the likelihood of node jamming, channel failures, and message corruption. This model was verified with a Monte-Carlo simulation. Our results confirmed that the VEKE protocol can accomplish an over-the-air rekey in a short period of time, even over low bit-rate systems, while preserving rigid security and channel availability properties of the network. It also allows for the amount of pre-placed public-key material and other preparations necessary in tactical networks to be minimized.

전술통신 환경에서 전송 성능 분석 및 보안 정책

본 논문에서는 미군 전술통신 운용환경과 정책, 전술링크에서 보안정책 및 전달성능을 분석하였다. 운용환경에서는 운용통신 메시지와 반자동 전투력을 지원하는 프레임워크, 링크계층의 SINCGARS 사양을 살펴보았고, 전술 보안정책에서 COMSEC 정책과 응용계층 보안을 분석하였다. 또한 전술 통신환경에서 전송 성능 및 보안 동기 검출 측면에서 분석하였다. 전술링크와 COMSEC 보안정책은 AFKDMS, AKMS, RBECS, KIV-7/HSB 암호디바이스와 같은 측면에서 분석하였다. This paper analyzed about operation environment and policy for US military tactical communication, and security policy and transmission performance of tactical link. It is presented operation communication message and framework, which is supported semi automated force, SINCGARS specification of link layer in operation environment, and analyzed COMSEC policy and application layer security in tactical security policy. Also it analyzed in respect to transmission performance and crypto synchronization detection. Security policy of tactical link and COMSEC is analyzed in respect of crypto device such as AFKDMS, AKMS, RBECS, KIV-7/HSB.

On considering hierarchical modulation in the porting process of legacy waveforms to software defined radio

The novel software defined radio (SDR) technology allows taking the next step in the evolution of military tactical communications. SDRs allow military radio operators to change waveforms on-the-fl...

This is What a Police State Looks Like: Sousveillance, Direct Action and the Anti-corporate Globalization Movement

Activists across the globe have increasingly incorporated digital communication technologies into their repertoire of direct action tactics to challenge state and corporate power. Examining the anti-corporate globalization protests at the September 2009 Group of Twenty (G-20) meetings in Pittsburgh, this paper explores how activists used sousveillance and counter-surveillance as direct action tactics to make excessive force by police more visible to the public. Collaborative endeavors such as the G-20 Resistance Project, the Tin Can Comms Collective and independent media centers provided activists with the necessary tactical and strategic communication networks to coordinate direct actions during the G-20 protests. Through the use of surveillance technologies widely available to the public such as video cameras, cell phones and the internet, activists created an environment of permanent visibility in which the behaviors of police were subjected to public scrutiny. The images captured by anti-globalization activists raises a salient question: Is this what a police state looks like?

Optimal Scheduling for Simulation Resource of Tactical Communication Network Based on Cloud Computing

Optimal Scheduling for Simulation Resource of Tactical Communication Network Based on Cloud Computing

전술 Ad-hoc 네트워크에서 노드 생존성 향상을 위한 프로토콜 설계

TICN, a next-generation tactical communication network based on a wireless network, acts as the backbone of the whole network. TICN requires the routing which takes both survivability of passage, reliability, and safety of wireless link into consideration. A tactical network like TICN may maintain the passage for just a short period of time due to topology's frequent changes; In this process all nodes, dependent on batteries for their necessary energy, are restricted by batteries' durability in due course. To overcome this shortcoming, the up-to-date protocols consider only either of diminishing or balancing out energy consumptions. Thus there was a limitation to enhancing both throughput and energy efficiency. The thesis proposes a protocol which regards both throughput and energy efficiency, and enhances node survivability by means of minimizing and balancing energy consumption of the whole network. The protocol brings out an improvement in throughput and makes each node's energy usage more effective.

FPGA based simple and fast JPEG encryptor

The efficient transmission of images at low bit rate with high security has gained momentum due to recent explosion in networking and multimedia applications. Mixing several existing standard encryption techniques with image encoding tend to change the bit rate greatly. In this paper, FPGA implementation of a novel image encryption algorithm, based on block and symbol scrambling is proposed as a part of JPEG image encoding scheme to meet four major requirements: (1) to provide temporal security, (2) to preserve the overall bit rate with negligible overhead, (3) remain complaint with the JPEG file format, (4) fast and less complex implementation for real time applications. Implementation of the algorithm in an efficient manner with low complexity is a requirement for real time tactical security applications. The algorithm is implemented on STRATIX II and IV FPGAs using only 1 % extra hardware for encryption than that of the basic JPEG. Further, the JPEG implementation without encryption is competitive with other implementations available in literature. The implemented encryption module can be used in the image transmission system for secure image coding and tactical communications.

전술환경에서의 VoIP 서비스를 위한 Dynamic QoS 기법 연구

Tactical communication environment evolving for the purpose of providing services such as voice, video and text based on ALL-IP. Therefore, To be able to guarantee QoS level which meets the required level of subscriber for these services in the constrained tactical communication infrastructure, it is required to take the characteristics such as wireless transmission link, mobility of troops or personal into service quality scheme. In this paper, to support differentiated QoS for each individual or mission in the tactical communication environment, we presents a technique that can provide same QoS level which was served originally regardless of the situation to user`s move through dynamically determining the QoS level to be provided at the time of the service request on VoIP-Switch.

Dynamic relay-location-oriented group management in MMR WiMAX networks

Multihop wireless systems outperform single-hop ones in terms of coverage and capacity. The IEEE 802.16 standard, also known as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), is one of the latest broadband wireless access technologies over long distances. Mobile multihop relay (MMR) WiMAX networks introduce relay stations (RS) to improve range and performance at low cost. Providing multimedia capabilities to groups defined by node proximity is an interesting feature in tactical communications, which MMR WiMAX networks may support. This paper presents a dynamic group management scheme at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer based on RS position, with dynamic RS selection, suitable for military environments where communications between close nodes are prioritary. The proposal is evaluated analytically and by simulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Robust Tracking Time-Varying High-Frequency CW Telegraph Signal

Continuous wave (CW) telegraph is a crucial communication means for high-frequency tactical communication. But there is serious frequency deviation and impulsive noise in High-frequency channel, thus the conventional tracking method based on Gaussian noise assumption may lose the track of time-varying CW signal. A new robust kalman filter-based tracker is proposed in this paper to extract the time-varying CW signal in presence of impulsive interference, which uses a nonlinear statistical model. Simulation studies show this method can dynamically track nonstationary CW signal and effectively suppress burst impulse noise.

1Mbps 이하 전술통신망에서의 소프트웨어 방식 화상회의 품질향상 연구

본 논문은 1Mbps 이하의 전술통신망 환경에서 소프트웨어 방식의 화상회의 운용방안을 연구하였다. 전술통신망 환경은 대역폭이 제한될 뿐만 아니라 불안정한 네트워크 상태로 데이터 손실과 전송지연 현상이 빈번히 발생한다. 또한 전술통신망을 기반으로 하는 지상전술지휘통제체계가 대역폭 사용의 우선권을 갖고 있기 때문에 화상회의가 사용할 수 있는 대역폭은 더욱 제한될 수밖에 없다. 본 논문에서는 이와 같은 전술통신망의 제한사항을 분석하고, 전술통신망 기반의 소프트웨어 방식 화상회의 품질향상 방안과 이를 적용한 실제 운용실험 결과를 함께 제시하였다. 손실패킷에 대한 재전송기법과 데이터 용량을 줄이기 위한 영상크기 축소를 우선적으로 적용하였다. 화상회의 운용을 위해서는 사용자 대역폭 보장이 최선의 해결방안이나 제한된 대역폭의 전술통신망에서는 영상 데이터 압축률 조정, 전송되는 영상 프레임 수 조정, 음성코덱 변경, 음성보정 데이터 사용 등을 최적화하여 화상회의 품질을 향상시킬 수 있다. This paper researched the operation methods of software video teleconferencing on the tactical communication networks under 1Mbps. The tactical communication networks have limited bandwidths, frequent data losses and transmission delays due to the unstable networks. In addition, the bandwidth for video teleconferencing has to be much smaller since the Army Tactical Command Information System(ATCIS) has priority of using the bandwidth. This paper analyzed such restrictions of tactical communication networks, presented some methods to improve the quality of the software video teleconferencing on the tactical communication networks and their actual experiments as well. It is applied in the first place to re-transmit the lost packets and to reduce the image size for the data traffic. Nothing is better for the video teleconferencing than to provide the bandwidth enough for every user. However, on the tactical communication networks with the limited bandwidth, video teleconferencing can be improved by optimizing the compression rate of image data, the number of image frames, the audio codec and the usage of audio compensation data.

Methodology of the design of an integrated telecommunications and computer network in a control information system for artillery battalion fire support

A Command Information System (CIS) in a broader sense can be defined as a set of hardware and software solutions by which one achieves real-time integration of organizational structures, doctrine, technical and technological systems and facilities, information flows and processes for efficient and rational decision-making and functioning. Time distribution and quality of information directly affect the implementation of the decision making process and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the system in which the achievement of the most important role is an integrated telecommunications and computer network (ITCN), dimensioned to the spatial distribution of tactical combat units connecting all the elements in a communications unit. The aim is to establish the design methodology as a way of the ITCN necessary to conduct analysis and extract all the necessary elements for modeling that are mapped to the elements of network infrastructure, and then analyzed from the perspective of telecommunications communication standards and parameters of the layers of the OSI network model. A relevant way to verify the designed model ITCN is the development of a simulation model with which adequate results can be obtained. Conclusions on the compliance with the requirements of tactical combat and tactical communication requirements are drawn on the basis of these results.