SCALABLE Demonstrates Integrated Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Simulation Environment

By Mike Ball / 08 May 2018
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SCALABLE underwater vehicle simulation software

SCALABLE Network Technologies, a developer of multi-domain network design and optimization tools, has announced that it has demonstrated its high-fidelity undersea communications and networking simulation/emulation tool developed for the U.S. Navy’s Forward Deployed Energy and Communications Outpost (FDECO) program.

Multiple mission scenarios involving shore command centers, ships, submarines, unmanned air and undersea vehicles (UAVs/UUVs) and forward deployed outposts were developed and executed in the SCALABLE simulation/emulation environment to demonstrate the benefits of establishing undersea energy and communications nodes. Multiple communications methods and protocols were explored in each scenario, including fiber optics, Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Very Low Frequency (VLF) propagation, Line-of-Sight Radio Frequency (RF), Acoustic, Free Space Optical and “Data Ferring” using UUVs/UAVs, thus demonstrating SCALABLE’s ability to conduct high-fidelity communications and networking modeling and simulation across all physical domains (undersea to space).

The FDECO Integrated Network Simulator (FINS) developed by SCALABLE provides high-fidelity models of outpost and vehicle energy management, as well as, all necessary communications between ashore command centers, afloat commanders and individual ships and submarines operating in challenging environments where normal communications methods have been denied or degraded.

FINS includes a high resolution three-dimensional visualization of vehicle operations and communications events to assist planners and operators in understanding the dynamics of mission execution and data transfers. FINS can also be interfaced with other simulations and live components to provide a comprehensive Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) environment for evaluating undersea energy, sensor, and communications solutions.

“Unmanned Underwater Vehicles are performing more and more missions in support of US Navy worldwide operations, and FINS enables requirements, acquisition, and operational communities to evaluate and identify optimal means of planning, executing and supporting those missions,” stated Jeff Hoyle, SCALABLE’s Vice President of Federal Programs.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact