FDECO Program

FDECO Background

FDECO (Forward Deployed Energy and Communications Outpost) is a an Office of Naval Research (ONR) research and development program to provide refueling and data transfer stations for unmanned underwater vehicles.  Two of the biggest challenges facing autonomous underwater vehicles are limited endurance and difficulties transferring the data collected by the UUVs.  The U.S. Navy's UUV Master Plan dated November 2004 articulated the requirement and noted that "undersea docking stations for recharging batteries and extracting data should be viewed as long term options.”

According to a May 2015 industry outreach event announcement, FDECO "will prototype a forward deployed, open, scalable and coordinated undersea energy replenishment, data management, and communications infrastructure (EDCI) for undersea vehicles and sensors." FDECO is intended to transmit data downloaded from UUVs by long-range (hundreds of miles), low-bandwidth methods, such as modems.

In a similar solicitation, in April 2015, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) issued an industry request for information on Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Docking Stations. The RFI seeks information on "homing, docking, capture and restraint, as well as energy transfer and data transfer."

SCALABLE Supports FDECO and Drone Communications

4 May 2017 - SCALABLE Network Technologies, Inc. (SCALABLE) a wireless network design and optimization tool company, announced today that the company has received a $1.5 (including options) million Phase II.5 contract award from the United States Navy as part of the Forward-Deployed-Energy and Communications Outpost (FDECO) Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) project.

The goal of this award is to develop the FDECO Integrated Simulator (FINS) using the Joint Network Emulator (JNE)/EXata modeling approach. SCALABLE will continue leveraging our simulation software to implement underwater communications modeling as it becomes increasingly critical to naval operations.SCALABLE will enhance the networking and communication simulation capabilities of JNE/EXata and expand the library of channel and communication models.

The resulting capability will be compatible with tools developed for JNE to allow for modeling and simulation of future FDECO concepts of operations that integrate FDECO with other communication networks. More specifically, networking models will be updated to support operations in a Disrupted, Disconnected, Intermittent, Limited Bandwidth (D-DIL) environment and additional models relevant to FDECO system operations. During Phase II, SCALABLE will develop a modular outpost model to support different types of nodes and the communications between them."Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are a low-cost surveillance and communication option that is finding increased use in commercial and military applications.

One of the most important aspects of the underwater environment is communication for command and control of UUVs and other assets and the timely, secure transfer of sensor data," stated Jeff Weaver, Vice President of Engineering. "As part of the project, SCALABLE will support modeling and communications envisaged in the FDECO program for risk mitigation, configuration management, network operations and mission planning which will help the Navy to develop capabilities to assure FDECO- supported missions.

SCALABLE's simulation software can be federated with other simulators making it the perfect choice to evaluate underwater network resiliency and performance, and their impact on the mission."

About SCALABLE Network Technologies

Based in Culver City, California, SCALABLE provides network design, modeling and analysis tools, cyber training systems and engineering support services to commercial enterprises, government and defense agencies, research organizations and educational institutions around the world.SCALABLE solutions integrate simulated virtual network models with physical hardware and applications, allowing users to reduce the time, cost and risks of developing, testing and deploying large, sophisticated wired and wireless networks and new communications equipment, and train personnel on cyber defense.

"Dependable underwater communications are critical to mission success," said Dr. Pedro Forero, Networks Area Lead for the FDECO INP. "Collaborating with SCALABLE allows the program to design and analyze the underwater network and mitigate risks while developing this innovative technology."

"We are very pleased to play an integral part in supporting the U.S. Navy throughout the entire FDECO operational lifecycle," stated Dr. Rajive Bagrodia, SCALABLE founder and CEO. "Our high-fidelity emulation solutions will enable design and accurate analysis of the critical underwater communications networks. SCALABLE strives to continuously enhance our software in support of national defense."

Related Systems

In 2005, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and Naval Postgraduate School tested docking, power, and data transfer with a Dorado AUV.

AUV docking system in the MBARI test tank - MBARI photo.

Battelle demonstrated a similar concept with its prototype UUV Docking and Replenishment Station (UDRS) in September 2011 in Boston Harbor with a Bluefin-12 UUV. The UDRS provides untethered (non-contact) energy and data transfer to UUVs via inductive power transfer and Wi-Fi data transfer. UDRS was capable of recharging UUVs in 6 to 12 hours and downloading data at 600 Kbps uploading it at 400 Kbps.  Future hardware could see data transmission speed increased up to 5 Mbps.

Also see: ULRM.

Battelle Photo of UDRS testing with Bluefin-12 UUV

Battelle AUV Docking & Recharging Station

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