goTenna’s revolutionary mesh routing technology broke new performance barriers and proved that it can be deployed in a hardware-agnostic fashion over an IP-based wireless network, giving the US Navy new capabilities in contested communications environments.
JERSEY CITY, NJ (December 8, 2021) — goTenna, the world’s leading mobile mesh networking platform, was announced as the first-place winner of the Networks Challenge in Naval Information Warfare System Command’s (NAVWAR) Networks Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (NetANTX), a prize competition seeking operationally relevant innovations and emerging networking technologies in support of Project Overmatch.
“At goTenna we have pioneered a new class of mesh networking protocols with ultra-low overhead that enables unprecedented scalability under low-bandwidth and other challenging conditions,”
said goTenna Chief Scientist, Ram Ramanathan.
“Our win is an independent external validation of how suitable our protocols are for operating in contested environments”
“It was an incredibly challenging ask where we had to move our embedded software to function as a stand-alone user-space process while accommodating Navy needs,”
said Christophe Servaes, goTenna’s Director of Firmware.
”But by doing so, we can now run our Aspen Grove capability on any IP-compatible platform, which is a big win in and of itself.”
goTenna won the competition based on its Aspen Grove protocol stack, in particular, the VINE routing protocol, which was considered as part of a Navy emulation system where it was compared to other submissions on Navy-relevant scenarios. The routing protocol provides breakthrough scalability and reliability for ultra-low-capacity mobile ad hoc networks. VINE uses a novel “embedded control” approach that significantly outperforms traditional methods. VINE also performs well under highly dynamic and unpredictable connectivity, and high mobility of platforms. It also enhances the security of the network.
The prize challenge awarded $100,000 in total cash prize for the best solutions presented, with first-place entries winning $75,000, and second place entries winning $25,000.
VINE is particularly useful for narrowband tactical communications or missions in contested environments. The protocol has already been implemented on the goTenna Pro X mesh networking device currently being used by over 300 military and public safety agencies around the world.
“I am extremely proud of the goTenna team’s creativity in utilizing our firmware to address the Navy’s needs to build a more resilient communications architecture in a contested environment,”
Said goTenna CEO, Ari Schuler.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Navy and defense community in developing and deploying new capabilities.”
About goTenna
goTenna was founded in 2012. The company shipped two generations of consumer mesh-networking devices in 2015 and 2017, before releasing its tactical-grade goTenna Pro product line in 2018. The goTenna team is led by seasoned individuals with broad innovation experience at companies like Raytheon BBN, Qualcomm, and Cisco and is backed by venture capital investors such as Founders Fund and Union Square Ventures. In addition, goTenna has received NRE funding from Google and the U.S. Department of Defense.
About Project Overmatch
Project Overmatch is a high priority Department of the Navy initiative to deliver a more lethal, better-connected fleet of the future by connecting manned and unmanned platforms, weapons and sensors together in a robust Naval Operational Architecture that integrates with Joint All-Domain Command and Control for enhanced Distributed Maritime Operations.
Critical to Project Overmatch is the development of networks, infrastructure, data architecture, tools and analytics that support the operational and developmental environment that will enable sustained maritime dominance for years to come.
About NetANTX Challenge
To deliver this modernized network, the NetANTX Challenge focused on exploring new networking technologies that will advance the reach, capacity and resiliency of the maritime tactical network in support of Project Overmatch.
Selected phase two participants were invited to demonstrate their solutions in a simulation-based environment that employed tactically relevant scenarios in operationally relevant conditions. The first place entry won $75,000, while second place was awarded $25,000. Winners were announced in November 2021.
About NAVWAR
NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains information warfighting capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space and through cyberspace. NAVWAR consists of more than 11,000 civilian, active duty and reserve professionals located around the world.