Mobile ad hoc network of waterborne sensors for enhanced maritime security

Recent advances in mobile networking capabilities and unmanned technologies, together with improved availability, has provided an opportunity for cost efficient increases in security for ports, harbors, and waterways. WaSPNet (Waterborne Surveillance and Protection Network) is aimed at providing a solution to the complex problem of maritime security. It comprises a swarm of network members, each configured as necessary in terms of sensor packages, mobility requirements and network capabilities to provide for information gathering and dissemination. A secure mobile ad hoc network of multiple unmanned maritime sensor equipped platforms meshed with existing fixed sensor networks can provide operators and decision makers with real-time eyes and ears on the scene. Initial operational experiments have validated this concept by integrating multiple sensing modalities through a mesh capable extended Ethernet WAN consisting of varied types of communication links. Extending this network across organizational boundaries will enhance decision making capabilities, enabling immediate responses to environmental, criminal, safety and security threats.