Wireless Network after Next

Program Manager: Mr. Preston Marshall

The Wireless Network after Next (WNaN) program goal is to develop and demonstrate technologies and system concepts enabling densely deployed networks in which distributed and adaptive network operations compensate for limitations of the physical layer of the low-cost wireless nodes that comprise these networks. WNaN networks will manage node configurations and the topology of the network to reduce the demands on the physical and link layers of the nodes. The technology created by the WNaN effort will provide reliable and highly-available battlefield communications at low system cost.

The WNaN program will develop a prototype handheld wireless node that can be used to form high-density ad hoc networks and gateways to the Global Information Grid. This program will develop robust networking architecture(s) that will exploit high-density node configurations from related DARPA programs. This program will culminate in a large-scale network demonstration using inexpensive multi-channel nodes. WNaN technology is planned for transition to the Army in 2010.