A team of researchers at Queen's University Belfast’s Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) is developing a new type of wireless communications system for the armed forces.
It project is aimed at investigating the use of arrays of highly specialised antennas that could be worn by combat troops to provide covert short-range person-to-person battleground communications.
This could enable small squads of soldiers to share real-time video, covert surveillance data and tactical information with each other via helmet mounted visors.
“Through our work, we aim to overcome some formidable challenges as the proposed wireless devices will be expected to operate in a range of environments much more exacting than those encountered in civilian life, " said lead researcher, Dr Simon Cotton of CSIT’s Radio Communications Research Group,
“Our job is to help make them a reality by modelling how the devices would work in real life; how the signals would be transmitted to and from the body of each user and what types of antennas would be required to allow them to function properly," said Cotton.
He also believes this could lead to applications not only for the military but also for the emergency services and the sports and entertainment markets.