LANdroids

Program Manager: Dr. Robert Mandelbaum

Challenges:

Radio equipment does not work reliably in buildings, urban environments and other non-line-of-sight conditions. Similarly, warfighters depend on reliable communications and digital connectivity. The LANdroids program seeks to enhance the communications between soldiers, as operations in urban environments are increasingly more common.

An important concept is that it is often difficult to predict signal propagation characteristics within an urban environment. Angle of incidence matters, where an emitter is located matters, even the building materials themselves can impact signal strength. The implications for LANdroids is that they must determine where exactly to "sit" based on the current situation and immediate environment - not based on pre-programmed maps or other approaches predicated on having detailed knowledge a priori. Such knowledge may augment a given approach but there will always be an element of deciding (in real time) where a given LANdroid should locate itself.

Even given that information, the dynamics of the world impact what constitutes a good location. Moving a convoy of trucks, removing a structure or building, or putting a new structure or building in place, can all impact RF connectivity. Change can also be caused by noise or other emitters in the environment. Since the LANdroid nodes are themselves emitters and receivers, their movement will affect the signal propagation and connectivity of their fellow LANdroids. A LANdroid that finds a good position in which to sit at time t1 may need to move or adjust its position at time t2.