Dispersed sensor processing mesh project

The F-8 dispersed sensor processing mesh project is an exploratory program involved in the development and test of the concept of a network communication structure. The elements of the structure are a bus controller and a number of nodes all of which are interconnected by multiple data flow paths. This structure is proposed as the communication medium between the subsystems of a distributed avionic system. In order to test and establish a data base for this proposed communication structure, the elements that comprise it must be designed and built. These elements are not just the hardware that is inherent to the structure, they also include the algorithms mechanized in the bus controller's software, the operating characteristic of the network, and the communication protocol used. The design and associated decisions made during the development of the network hardware and software are considered.