MurphyвЂ™s investigation into the technology was inspired in part by Douglas Tamilio, the director of RDECOM Soldier Center, sharing an article about LiFi with RDECOM Soldier Center leadership. (Photo is courtesy of the RDECOM Soldier Center Expeditionary Maneuver Support Directorate) Then a Soldier just needs a light shined overhead to have network access. The transceiver (pictured here) is simply put into a USB port and will then detect the signal and users will be hooked up to the IT network of their command post. вЂњAs light cannot pass through walls, the enemy cannot detect the signal.вЂќ вЂњThe technology uses light waves to transmit and receive data between the servers and the userвЂ™s computer,вЂќ said Melvin Jee, the leader of EMSDвЂ™s Command Post Platforms Branch. Moreover, since the technology does not use radio waves, it cannot be detected outside the confines of the mission command platform. LiFi eliminates the problems associated with the time-consuming task of running data lines in tactical operation centers and command posts. EMSD has come up with a concept for using LiFi within any enclosed mission command platform. The technology will be used in expeditionary mission commands.

Murphy has been investigating ways to utilize the emerging commercially available technology in a tactical environment as the physical characteristics appear to solve many issues facing wired and wireless field command post network systems. вЂњItвЂ™s a wireless system but instead of using radio frequencies it uses infrared light,вЂќ said Frank Murphy, an engineer on EMSDвЂ™s System Development and Engineering Team.

This is the idea behind a new technology being investigated by the Research, Development and Engineering Command Soldier CenterвЂ™s Expeditionary Maneuver Support Directorate, along with its industry partner, VLNComm of Charlottesville, Va. When investigating new ways of transmitting and communicating information, sometimes it helps to see the light.

Command post platform shelter