Alion to Provide Modeling and Simulation to Help Ease Spectrum Overcrowding
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Alion Science and Technology in McLean, VA received a $7.8 million contract to provide spectrum modeling, simulation, analysis, certification and automation services to the US Army Spectrum Management Office.
For the modern US Army, the many voice and data communications, sensors, intelligence, and weapons systems require sufficient spectrum to operate effectively. Under the contract, Alion will provide modeling and simulation support to help the Army avoid spectrum conflicts due to environmental issues, technical difficulties, electromagnetic interference, and overcrowding resulting from too many wireless systems using the same bandwidth.
Work under this contract will contribute to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Wireless Network after Next (WNAN) program…
The WNAN program intends to use inexpensive, high-volume, commercial off-the-shelf hardware components combined with adaptive wireless network software operating over densely-deployed, low-cost wireless nodes, with the aim of putting a reliable communications radio into the hands of every soldier.
Under the Army contract, Alion will research and identify RF spectrum management and modeling issues associated with WNAN and make recommendations for effectively addressing spectrum issues. According to Alion,
“WNAN technology involves communications and sensor systems that can dynamically sense, characterize, react and adapt to changing network conditions, including actual RF spectrum usage in the environment. Such technology should allow for significant increases in spectrum efficiency while greatly reducing the time required to perform RF spectrum planning, management, assignment, and coordination operations. Alion will research and identify RF spectrum management and modeling issues associated with this technology and make recommendations on strategies and actions for effectively addressing these issues.”
In addition, Alion will:
- provide a dynamic means to design, test, and certify spectrum-dependent system (SDS) technology;
- develop improved software tools to model RF compatibility and availability on the battlefield; and
- assist ASMO in evaluating WNAN technology.
ASMO directs Army-wide spectrum management activities, develops and implements spectrum management policy, and allocates frequency resources to support the Army.
The period of performance for the contract runs June 26/09 through June 25/12. The work is sponsored by the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office, under the Modeling and Simulation Information Analysis Center (MSIAC) contract vehicle (N61339-03-D-0300).
