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SHARP
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 ARCH – Advanced Reconnaissance Compression Hardware |
 NAVIS – Navy Input Station |
 TIS – Tactical Input Segment |
 SDS – SHARP Display Station |
To overcome the current limitations of recorders and communications links, SDL developed a data compression suite to significantly reduce the volume of data without compromising the tactical/reconnaissance (TAC/RECCE) information the data contain. As part of the SHARP reconnaissance pod, ARCH provides JPEG compression and error detection and correction (EDAC), as well as input and output interfaces to the sensor, recorder and data link.
The SHARP system replaced the Navy’s previous manned reconnaissance system called Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod (TARPS). SDL and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) were instrumental in designing and building a prototype system to be used for the basis of the SHARP pod. As part of that prototype system a new ship-board ground station was developed called the Navy Input Station (NAVIS). NAVIS became the first ISR ground station capable of real-time processing, display, and exploitation of digital imagery. As part of the initial NAVIS proof-of-concept demonstration, the Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System-Completely Digital (TARPS-CD) was the first completely digital system to provide real-time transmission of step framing imagery to a receiving ground station with real-time image display capabilities.
Based on the existing NAVIS visualization technology, SDL was chosen to design, build, integrate, test, and support the Screener Processor Element (SPE) portion of the Tactical Input Segment (TIS) built by Lockheed Martin for shipboard use.
As a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, SDL developed the hardware and software necessary to screen legacy sensor data from a Common Imagery Processor (CIP) and to process and screen SHARP data from a Common Data Link or digital storage system.
Under contract to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), SDL designed and built (based on the NAVIS and TIS software) a series of ruggedized, portable display stations as an F/A-18 squadron-level asset for use with the SHARP system. The SHARP Display Station (SDS) was developed for use in aircrew training, mission results validation, target verification, and on-site maintenance assistance.
The SDS allows for rapid screening of digital tactical image data from a digital storage system, live data links (via SDL’s CIB – see below), DVD/CD-ROM or hard disk. This PC-based ground station is built entirely from commercial off-the-shelf hardware and includes SDL’s Vantage software suite that provides image processing, display and database storage for NITF imagery
Currently the SDS is being used to support all deployed SHARP squadrons. In 2006, the SDS was modified to include SHARP change detection capabilities. As a result of this increased capability, two additional change detection workstations have been added to the SDS system to allow up to three users at any given time to process and exploit imagery.
Vantage is a full-featured software suite that includes:
Vantage Screener – Displays digital tactical imagery in a robust, near real-time NITF formatted waterfall of decimated imagery from a live data link, solid state recorder, DVD/CD, or hard disk
Vantage Ascent – Configures ground stations (SDS) for device interface management, sensor interface/processing, NITF formation, and database management
Vantage SOAR – Interfaces with data received through SDL’s Common Data Link Interface Box (CIB)
SHARP is one of the first sensors that Vantage supported. Over the years, Vantage has grown to interface with dozens of other tactical sensors as well.
This software suite allows the image analyst to receive, decompress/compress, process, display, evaluate, exploit, and store imagery data; as well as create/disseminate processed image products. The Vantage software suite can also be customized to support data from multiple sensor formats.
In order to receive, synchronize, route, and simulate CDL data, SDL developed the CIB initially for the SHARP system. The CIB allows the ground stations the capability to screen live data from a Common Data Link (CDL) downlink. When the aircraft acquires the imagery data and navigational data, it is sent via radio frequency link to a ground-based receiving antenna such as Cubic’s CDLS system or one of L-3 Communication’s antennas such as a TARS Surface Terminal Equipment (STE), MIST, TIGDL, ROVER, or CHBDL-ST. The CIB has successfully interfaced with all of the above referenced antennas and provides a standard gigabit Ethernet stream to a screening ground station. The CIB technology enables the customer greater hardware and software flexibility for screening and exploitation ground stations, which eliminates the need to use a VME chassis and provides cross-platform support.
CIB – CDL Interface Box
SDL's C4ISR Systems
CIB Fact Sheet
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