The Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT), also called Internet of Military Things (IoMT), represents a groundbreaking paradigm shift in how military operations are conceived, planned, and executed. Among the most impactful technologies within this domain are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communications. These systems are reshaping the future of warfare, offering unprecedented situational awareness, operational efficiency, and mission success.
Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras and other enabling equipment, UAVs and UGVs can gather and relay critical data, monitor and record threats, and perform missions autonomously or under human guidance. However, all their capabilities are largely enhanced when powered by advanced non-line-of-sight communication technologies. When integrated with NLOS communications, UAVs and UGVs can be controlled from a remote, safe command center. This also enables commanders to view and analyze all the field data while strategizing together in a remote location and communicating back to the field personnel with dynamic and improved tactical decisions.
This comprehensive interconnectedness of IoBT provides multiple benefits to military organizations, including:
- Enhanced situational awareness: IoBT allows for the collection and analysis of data and video from diverse sources (drones, sensors, wearables), creating a comprehensive picture of the battlefield in real-time.
- Improved decision-making: Real-time data enables commanders to make faster, more informed decisions, adapting to on-the-fly situations.
- Increased automation: IoBT facilitates the automation of tasks, reducing human error and freeing up personnel for critical missions.
- Enhanced field personnel capabilities: Wearable devices such as mobile cameras and augmented reality tools provide real-time information and support.
Yet, there are challenges as well, including increased cybersecurity vulnerabilities. In addition, there must be smooth hand-off between systems to ensure continuous communication and data sharing.
Midjourney)
NLOS: Enabling the Connected Battlefield
Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) communication is the critical enabler of the Internet of Battlefield Things, allowing UAVs and UGVs to operate far beyond visual range. These advanced communication technologies enable autonomous systems to perform more complex missions without constant human oversight, maintaining robust data connectivity and uninterrupted operation, particularly in large or complex battlefields. It also enables the control and operation of the device/system to be performed in remote command centers, to operate swarms of drones or fleets of machines and to map and use the data of the current mission to optimize future missions.
Elsight’s Halo: Ensuring Resilient Connectivity in Modern Battlefields
Maintaining secure and reliable NLOS communication is a critical challenge in the interconnected Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) ecosystem. Elsight’s Halo NLOS connectivity platform maintains reliable and secure communication links for field military operations by using multilink technology that seamlessly aggregates multiple communication channels, using all available spectrum. By integrating public and private cellular networks, satellite communications, and radio frequency (RF) channels with extremely low latency and high redundancy, the Halo creates the most resilient and secure battlefield connectivity.
Not all NLOS communications are alike. Elsight Halo provides:
- Always-on connectivity through a dynamic bonding mechanism that aggregates multiple networks into a bonded pipe that can be managed by users. The Halo continuously monitors and predicts each network channel’s availability, aggregating traffic in real-time to maintain high bandwidth and continuous transmission of vital video, telemetry, and C2 (Command and Control) data.
- Mission-critical security safeguards sensitive military information. Halo employs advanced encryption and data-splitting techniques to protect critical data from unauthorized access, ensuring a high level of security.
- Extremely high redundancy ensures communications continuity even under the most challenging operational environments including difficult terrain such as mountains, swamps and islands.
- Minimized setup time and easy portability facilitate rapid deployment during demanding battlefield conditions.
- Lightweight and modular SWaT enables seamless integration across diverse UAV and UGV platforms.
By providing robust, secure, and redundant NLOS communication, Elsight’s Halo ensures that military unmanned systems maintain their operational edge in the most demanding scenarios.
For more information, write info@elsight.com or visit www.elsight.com Watch the on-demand webinar here “Applying commercial connectivity success in modern warfare”.
Author:
Roee Kashi
Co-founder and CTO, Elsight
Contact:
Susan Becker
E: susan.b@elsight.com
T: +972-77-751-600
M: +972-50-4747895
Elsight Ltd.
3 Ariel Sharon Blvd.
Or-Yehuda 6037606, Israel
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