Air Traffic Control Radio
Objective
To provide a 'step-change' technology development for a radio company faced with a change in technical regulations. As the world of Air Traffic Control radio moved from analogue to digital, our client had no understanding of, or experience in, the new technologies. Could Cambridge Consultants help them understand the implications for their business and move them into the new technologies?
Approach
We started the programme by reviewing all of the emerging standards for the digital radios and interpreting them for the client. We devised a solution for a new software radio technology platform and formed a joint development team so that as we developed the new radio we could transfer the technology knowledge into our clients' organisation. After the development of a successful technology demonstrator, we went on to develop commercial products to move the client into the new market. Cambridge Consultants provided radio architecture design, RF circuit design, digital signal processing expertise and software system design and implementation into the joint development programmes.
Result
The client now has a commercially successful range of multi-mode radios, which supports both the emerging standard and the legacy standards around the world. The Federal Aviation Authority has chosen one version of the radio for the NEXCOM programme, which will see this version of the radio rolled out across the whole of America for control of its Air Traffic Network.
Benefit
Working with Cambridge Consultants has helped this client learn the new technologies quickly and reach a position where they can apply it themselves. The client has been able to transition to an entirely new technology base faster than any of the competition. By being there first, it has set the defacto standard for performance and carved out a dominant position in the market.