COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Vehicle communications and integration
RELATED INFORMATION |
Military field vehicles usually have limited space for personnel, allowing them to carry technical systems such as weaponry and sensors while still maintaining high levels of mobility and the necessary protection. Personnel may be seated in separate cabins in the vehicle, depending on their roles. Some combat vehicles are very noisy inside, particularly when in motion, so personnel are dependent on intercom systems for voice communications as well as a distributed data network for their displays and computers. The intercom network is connected to external transmission systems such as VHF and UHF radios and satellite terminals for voice, data and video communications. Consequently, the intercom system provides the necessary voice and IP gateway functionality to connect the internal communication system to the external mode of transmission. The vehicle may also act as a transit node for traffic between other vehicles in a group, such as by making use of ad hoc IP routing. Thales Norway has supplied voice and data intercom systems for more than 500 different kinds of army vehicle. This system, known as SOTAS, has been developed and produced by Thales Land & Joint Systems. Each user has an Advanced User Station (AUS) to which their headset is connected, and this permits access control to voice channels and telephony. AUS offers effective noise-cancelling functions and ensures clear voice transmission even in very noisy environments. These AUS units are connected to a Central Multimedia Switching Unit (CMSU). The CMSU offers teleconferencing, LAN switching and IP routing for internal and external communications. SOTAS is highly modular, and Thales Norway is currently working with the manufacturer to ensure that SOTAS remains abreast of new and evolving customer requirements. |
