RadioMap spectrum management program reaches final phase
NewsNovember 09, 2015
ARLINGTON, VA. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) advanced RF mapping program - RadioMap - has reached its final phase, therefore DARPA officials selected engineers at Lockheed Martin to further develop technology from Phases 1 and 2 into a full system that can be transitioned to military services.
RadioMap seeks to provide real-time awareness of radio spectrum use across frequency, geography, and time. Program engineers are developing technology that visually overlays spectrum information on a map. It uses real-time visualization of actual spectrum that can help users detect the unused frequency.
“RadioMap adds value to existing radios, jammers and other RF electronic equipment used by our military forces in the field,” says John Chapin, DARPA program manager. “This program doesn’t require purchasing new spectrum-sensing devices. Rather, it uses existing radios and jammers that do double-duty. In the ‘down’ time when they aren’t performing their primary function, the devices sense the spectrum around them and, through RadioMap technology, provide an accurate picture of what frequencies are currently in use and where.”
“The Marine Corps is an ideal transition partner for RadioMap,” Chapin says. “They have in place the doctrine, organizational structure, and information systems framework that can effectively integrate RadioMap software. After successful tests at Quantico Marine Base in Phase 2 of RadioMap, I look forward to further collaboration and to transitioning the technology to Marine Corps use at the end of Phase 3.”
RadioMap Phase 3 base period is scheduled through summer of 2016. Further operational testing could happen in early 2017 if the test is successful with the Marine Corps.
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