[SatNews] Packing what used to require more than 160 pounds of equipment into a single six-pound piece of equipment is quite an accomplishment...
Product Development Technologies (PDT), a global, full-service product development firm, and Coolfire Solutions, a mobile development studio for the military and intelligence communities, have developed the Satellite Communications Operational User Toolkit (SCOUT™). The device, modeled after modern smartphones, combines what was more than 160 pounds of disconnected pieces of equipment and applications into a small, intuitive yet robust six-pound package. The product officially launched at the recent 2011 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, Florida.
Today, military SATCOM operators are required to use multiple pieces of heavy lab equipment for each task in setup and maintenance. This includes the location, acquisition and verification of satellite links using a spectrum analyzer, digital multimeter, power meter, GPS receiver, compass, inclinometer, declination map, calculator, and other tools. All of this equipment can weigh up to 160 pounds, and is typically packed in approximately four large pelican cases. These cases then have to be carried by a team of soldiers to the satellite terminal often far downrange – an extremely taxing process.
In an effort to resolve this issue, Tom Cox, President of Coolfire Solutions and a former U.S. Army SATCOM operator, contacted PDT to develop a more efficient solution. Through Coolfire’s expertise with the SATCOM industry and PDT’s expansive product development knowledge, SCOUT was born. Beyond reducing the amount of physical gear SATCOM operators are required to handle, SCOUT™ improves upon several other issues for the end-user. For example, a typical spectrum analyzer has more than 50 buttons on its front panel. However, SCOUT™ simplifies the user interface for each of the test devices within the spectrum analyzer with a multi-touch interface familiar to smartphone users. Operators can slide their finger across the screen to change frequency, pinch-zoom to change span, etc.
SCOUT also simplifies highly technical operations, which drastically reduces the level of training an operator requires to conduct typical SATCOM tasks. SCOUT includes several work-flow processes, which allow novice users to conduct highly technical tests and alignments with little more training than understanding how to use an iPhone. Complete with video instructions and the ability to call a tech support number, SCOUT helps non-technical users conduct tasks that normally require individuals with several months (or years) of specialized training. SCOUT™ replaces highly expensive and delicate test equipment devices, as well as months of training for each user.
