Sensor link protocol: linking sensor systems to the digital battlefield

The continued emphasis on battlefield digitization and communications has created a means to disseminate accurate and timely information among a variety of battlefield computer systems. These efforts now require the digital interfacing of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) sensor systems to these battlefield computer systems. This paper describes the sensor link protocol, which provides a common interface to a variety of RSTA sensor systems. The sensor link protocol, developed by the Program Management Office of Night Vision/Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (PM NV/RSTA), acts as an enabling technology linking RSTA sensor systems to the digitized battlefield. The sensor link protocol is an RS 485/232 based networking protocol that allows a diverse set of sensors to be connected to a variety of host computer platforms. The protocol provides an interface for exchanging digital information between a host computer and sensor systems, as well as a method of externally controlling the sensor's functions from the host.