How Satellite Military IoT is transforming battlefields

Let’s first take a broad, high-level look at IoT, an interrelated network of connected devices that trade data with other devices.

Typically, IoT devices have ingrained technology (e.g., software and sensors) and often include digital/mechanic machines and consumer objects.

Before addressing battlefield-related IoT applications, it’s contextually vital to note its various industrial implementations. Organisations far and wide incorporate IoT-based tech to improve customer service, streamline operations, bolster decision-making, and increase bottom lines.

IoT-based data doesn’t require human-to-human or human-to-machine interactions to transfer data. Examples of “things” under the Internet of Things umbrella include biochip transponders for farm animals, heart monitor implants, and built-in vehicle sensors to alert drivers of low tire pressure.

All artificial or natural objects capable of having an IP address or can transfer network data qualify as an IoT “thing.”

Web-enabled smart devices using embedded systems (e.g., comm hardware, sensors, and processors) comprise an IoT ecosystem. These devices gather and send acquired data from their given environments and then act on them.

Related devices connect to an IoT gateway to share collected sensor data. The gateway functions as a central data hub.

Data can be sent to an edge device to be locally analysed before it’s shared to reduce the volumes sent to the cloud. This limits bandwidth consumption.

These devices can communicate with others in their network and act on the shared information.

The required human intervention is minimal with IoT devices and networks. Still, people can interact via the devices to give instructions, set them up, access data, etc.

IoT also utilises machine learning and artificial intelligence to bolster data collection, making it more dynamic.

With this helpful context established, we’ll shed light on how IoT relates to the military.

As we described the IoT and its ubiquity, we mentioned how almost all objects and living things can be connected to the network. That includes planes, tanks, drones, soldiers, ships, operating bases and other related military “things.”

Connecting these military-based objects and people fosters a heightened cohesiveness, bolstering risk assessment, response time, and situational awareness. Additionally, massively helpful contextual data will be generated.

“The Internet of Battlefield Things” (IoBT) fully realises pervasive computing, communication, and sensing. This will lead to unprecedented network sensor and computing unit-produced information scaling.

IoBT computing and sensing devices can be worn by soldiers. They’re implemented into combat uniforms, weapon systems, helmets, and other equipment. They can acquire dynamic and static biometrics (e.g., iris, periocular space, fingerprints, facial expressions, gait, gestures, and heart rate).

Below is a list of advantages that IoBT offers militaries:

Enemy identification

Identifying enemy combatants in asymmetric warfare is highly challenging. Such adversaries can disguise themselves as civilians. They can also steal badges and infiltrate bases.

IoBT sensors can scan irises, fingerprints, and similar biometric data. This way, threats are identified.

With the help of Edge Computing, an enemy combatant can be instantly identified from fingerprints found on a bomb or weapon after being uploaded to the network. Target identities can also be confirmed for snipers.

Physical and mental state monitoring

Uniform and helmet-embedded sensors can send data about a soldier’s physical condition to a command centre. This can help them survive life-threatening enemy attacks.

Say a soldier is exposed to toxic chemicals or under g-force conditions. It will be possible to assist them and likely save their lives with the technology detailed above.

This shared biometrics information includes physical (e.g., body temperature and heart rate) and behavioural (e.g., speech patterns and body dynamics) indicators. Related user data will help infer soldiers' emotional and psychological conditions while in the thick of combat. The contextual information provided will help with decision activity and critical situation evaluation.

Syncing weapon systems/devices with soldiers

Edge computing-powered IoBT will grant soldiers access to weapon systems and vehicles. It will also monitor conditions on the battlefield via connected drones, for example.

The contextual information provided by syncing weapons and other devices will help optimise performance. It will also aid with biometric system operational adaptation. These objectives will be accomplished through ubiquitous user authentication/monitoring implementation on mobile hardware architectures.

Contextual data can include information about the following:

• The surrounding lighting conditions.
• Environment and terrain.
• Physical status of soldiers.
• Ongoing activity (e.g., is a sniper waiting quietly for a target?)

Satellite IoT facilitates global connectivity via satellite networks.

Typically, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks are required. These offer low latency and high bandwidth, calling for more satellites to provide and maintain coverage.

Satellite IoT can be implemented as an independent solution or to augment terrestrial networks(e.g., cellular connectivity).

Satellite IoT is so advantageous because it can thrive and offer connections in remote locations. This is where militaries stand to benefit most from such technologies. After all, who’s to say where missions and initiatives will end up?

Often, soldiers find themselves in remote locations. Losing connectivity due to the limitations of terrestrial IoT could prove costly, if not fatal, in extreme circumstances. Satellite-based (or supported) IoBT will ensure this doesn’t happen. All systems will remain up and running no matter how remote a setting is.

Bolstering terrestrial IoBT capabilities with satellite IoT technologies ensures that military systems and soldiers remain connected, no matter where missions and initiatives take them.

Such technology can give armies a sustained tactical advantage against enemies through optimised performance while saving lives. We offer a whole-hearted salute to those results.