AUSA 2022: DTC launches new waveform, integrates with Nett Warrior chest mount

The Domo Tactical Communications SDR-M integrated into the Kägwerks DOCK-Lite chest mount. The cables emerging from the bottom are the antennas. (Janes/Giles Ebbutt)

Domo Tactical Communications (DTC), part of Codan Communications, has developed a new member of its MeshUltra internet protocol (IP) waveform (WF) family. The MeshUltra family is a range of mobile ad hoc network (MANET) coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (COFDM) WFs.

The new WF, launched at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2022 annual convention in Washington, DC, held from 10 to 12 October, is called the MeshUltra-M (mobility). It is designed for use where the MANET topology is changing very rapidly and instantaneous switching between nodes is required to ensure connectivity. Optimised for use in a network with a maximum of 24 nodes, with channel bandwidths of up to 20 MHz, it can deliver throughput up to 87 Mbit/s.

The rapid switching is achieved by minimising the network management metadata being transmitted, providing the maximum capacity for user data, Rob Garth, director of products, video, and broadcast at DTC, told Janes . “This gives the greatest robustness of connection in very fast, very mobile environments,” he said.

The capability is valuable for controlling unmanned and autonomous vehicles where continuity of connection is critical. Garth quoted the example of a trial in an unspecified Middle Eastern country where the lead vehicle in a 30–40 mph convoy was uncrewed and was being controlled at a distance from the vehicle behind with a real-time video feed using MeshUltra-M.

“Under those sorts of circumstances, you can't afford any discontinuity,” he said.