SHPE - Spring08 - (Page 36)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY T By Patty Enrado Breakthroughs in Mobile Military Communications I n the mid-1990’s, the U.S. Department of Defense wanted to put advanced Internet-based mobile communications capability into its battlespace. As a result, it developed a transformational program called the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). JTRS is a family of software-programmable tactical radios that provide combat personnel with voice, data and video communications. These are interoperable among battlefield participants regardless of their branch of service. Led by Alejandro (Alex) Lopez, a Boeing team in Anaheim, California, pursued this effort and developed the technology for software-defined radios and networking, allowing soldiers to communicate without the need for a fixed infrastructure. “The radios are the infrastructure that creates a mobile ad hoc network,” Lopez said. “This is a completely different paradigm in the battlespace.” After winning the JTRS Ground Mobile Radios (GMR) contract, Boeing’s initiative, once again led by Lopez, leveraged the JTRS concept in the satellite communications world. In this case, Boeing bid on the U.S. Air Force’s Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T) effort. FAB-T is a net-ready, interoperable communicabreakthrough,” he added. tions system that provides highThat technology developrate data exchange, “communicament led to the design and tions on the move,” for the development of the next-genwarfighter. Boeing won the eration Combat Survivor/ contract in 2002. Evader Locator (CSEL) system. Today, the company is replicatCSEL provides downed pilots ing the JTRS common reusable with the capability to find their infrastructure to develop commu- Alejandro Lopez nications technology in the airborne, location via the Global Positioning System maritime and fixed station domains. (GPS) and sends this location and text mes“Software-based communication systems sages to a satellite. Next, the information is continue to be the key to transformation,” transmitted to a base station that decodes the Lopez explained. In 1996, his team at signal and relays back to the pilot in real time Boeing developed the low power miniature that the signal is received error free. An operelectronics and battery technology for the ator can send messages to pilots to assist first handheld radio that was able to talk to them in evading and guiding them to a resa geostationary satellite 22,000 miles above cue location. “It’s been very exciting to have been a the Earth. “That was a big technological part of this period of innovation and technology in networked communications,” Lopez remarked. “We had a vision, and we were fortunate to see it through.” Of the industries in which Lopez has been involved, he explained that communications and networking were central to everything and critical to the future. Currently, Lopez is the vice president of Boeing’s Advanced Network and Space Systems based in Huntington Beach, California, one of five business elements of Boeing Advanced Systems. His organization is tasked with capturing new business activity in the network and space systems markets by creating The JTRS Ground Mobile innovative technology and capitalizing on Radios (right installed in a adjacent and new market opportunities that Humvee as part of a field demonstration) is a softcontribute to the growth of Integrated ware-programmable radio Defense Systems, Boeing’s largest operating system that provides business unit. secure, reliable, multichannel voice, data, Lopez has a Bachelor of Science in elecimagery and video trical engineering from Princeton University communications for mobile and a master’s degree in electrical engineermilitary users. ing from Stanford University. I SHPE R Spring 2008 36 Courtesy of The Boeing Company

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring08

SHPE - Spring08 Contents President’s Letter Browser Letters to the Editor Calendar of Events The Magic of Thinking BIG Five Steps to Easier Fundraising Designing Women ¡Viva Verde! The Education and Training of Ramon Flores Breakthroughs in Mobile Military Communications The Retention Doctor Success at School Begins at Home STAR Nominations Do Good Things Come to Those Who Wait? Programs & Services Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Spring08

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