Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing of Wireless Sensor Networks

The addition of network interfaces and fusion algorithms to sensor systems results in an increase in the complexity of the required test and evaluation technologies and methods. Existing testing capabilities are not adequate for testing of tactical networked sensor hardware in complex battlefield configurations. We are developing a system for testing the wireless sensor networks that support tactical hardware interacting in real time with emulated network nodes in an augmented reality test scenario. The test bed provides a realistic simulated representation of a tactical network that allows faithful testing of networked systems focusing on hardware-in-theloop testing of sensors and sensor fusion systems. Systems can be tested using this method in a controlled, repeatable environment not feasible in field testing. The system design combines dedicated high performance computing resources with a scalable, high fidelity network emulation and a computer generated forces model to virtually represent the tactical network, force movement, interactions, and communication loads to systems under test. This article presents the test bed design framework, preliminary performance results, and a concept for determining the requirement and performance envelope for test bed utilization.