CIN to call for proposals for augmenting VaaN technology

The Connectivity Innovation Network has announced it will open a Call for Proposals focused on advancing Vehicle as a Node (VaaN) technology to extend Wi-Fi coverage around emergency service vehicles operating in regional, remote and low-coverage environments.

The invitation is open to CIN members to propose short, targeted research work packages addressing a clearly defined public safety communications challenge: extending reliable Wi-Fi connectivity well beyond the immediate vicinity of emergency vehicles when conventional networks are unavailable.

Background

The NSW Government has made a substantial investment in augmenting the Public Safety Network (PSN) through the deployment of Vehicle as a Node (VaaN) technology. VaaN systems have been installed on NSW State Emergency Service vehicles and are currently being rolled out by the NSW Rural Fire Service, with trials previously conducted by the NSW Police Force.

VaaN enables emergency service organisations (ESOs) to maintain communications when the PSN P25 network is unavailable by creating a local Wi-Fi ‘bubble’ around a vehicle, allowing Motorola APX8000 portable radios to connect via the VaaN system.

In many operational scenarios — including land rescue, bushfire response and flood response — personnel operate well beyond the vehicle’s immediate vicinity. In current deployments, vehicle-mounted ‘sharkfin’ antennas typically provide Wi-Fi coverage of less than 100 m. This constrained range can leave responders without reliable communications, reducing operational effectiveness and increasing risk to both personnel and the public.

Significantly extending the Wi-Fi coverage radius around VaaN-equipped vehicles would improve the return on investment of the existing system and enhance ESO capability and safety when PSN coverage is unavailable. The core technical challenge lies in achieving this performance improvement within a vehicle-mountable antenna form factor suitable for rugged, field-based deployment.

Objective

The primary objective of this Call for Proposals is to develop an antenna subsystem that significantly extends the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi coverage range of existing VaaN systems. The target outcome is an improvement of five to seven times the range typically achieved by the sharkfin antennas currently used in VaaN deployments.

If successful, the proposed antenna technology would support a practical retrofit upgrade path, enhancing the value of the NSW Government’s existing investment in VaaN.

This call is open to all CIN members, and applications are expected to open on Thursday, 5 February, closing on 24 February.

Full details, including submission instructions, will be published at www.connectivityinnovationnetwork.com when the Call for Proposals opens.

Image credit: iStock.com/SCM Jeans