Augusta Systems EdgeFrontier Integrates Data from Sensors & Unmanned Vehicles, Creates Platform for Autonomous Operations

07:08 GMT, June 24, 2009 MORGANTOWN, W.Va. | The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded a $1.3 million contract to Augusta Systems, Inc., provider of technologies that power the intelligent convergence of devices, systems and networks, to test and enhance a distributed, intelligent network capable of managing single and multiple "swarms" of unmanned air, ground and sea vehicles, unattended ground sensors, video cameras, and other devices. Powered by Augusta Systems EdgeFrontier products, the intelligent network enables the vehicles and devices to act on their own, in an autonomous manner, based upon data sent from their own swarm or other swarms.

"Augusta Systems EdgeFrontier powers the intelligent convergence of data from diverse sources, providing a platform for the Navy's intelligent, swarming network," said Patrick Esposito, president and chief operating officer of Augusta Systems. "This network can help the Navy to achieve important technology objectives, including system interoperability, network-centric operations and the enhancement of its unmanned vehicle capabilities."

EdgeFrontier products provide complete platforms for building and managing complex monitoring, control and automation solutions. EdgeFrontier supports integration and normalization of data, events and control functions from diverse devices, systems and networks, regardless of manufacturer or communications protocol. In addition, EdgeFrontier provides structures for event processing and configuration of event or policy-based actions through a policy engine.

Through the effort, Augusta Systems will support robustness and scalability testing and development of functional enhancements for the intelligent network, enabled through the Augusta Systems platform technologies. The intelligent network demonstrates important capabilities, including:

* Diverse vehicle, sensor and device data integration, correlation and processing;

* Adaptive, cooperative behavior on-board the vehicles and at the point of the sensors and devices through third-party swarming software;

* Relay of requested data to multiple users from multiple vehicles, sensors and devices; and,

* Intelligent communication, independent of user operations.

"Through our technologies, NAVAIR can demonstrate the integration and automation of a diverse network of unmanned vehicles, sensors and other devices," Esposito said. "Importantly, this includes distributed data convergence, enabling these assets to process and share data in the field. This enhances real-time information sharing and response, an important factor in robust intelligent, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities."