The wireless sensor communication network, located around the First Responder's body is called a Body Area Network (BAN).

Alcyone Systems has developed a wireless sensor Body Area Network that enables First responders to gather intelligence from external bio and environmental sensors strategically placed on the responder's gear.

The system takes advantage of Multiple Bio & Environmental Sensors utilizing UWB Wireless Body Area Network for connectivity to external sensors and antennas. We also included a Bluetooth subsystem for legacy bio and environmental sensors that are not equipped with Wireless USB. All BAN sensor modules are within the communication range of all others, so it has a single-hop network with a maximum rang of 1.5 meter radius.

The BAN communication platform from the application perspective has; 1) a secure and robust communication channels between sensor modules, 2) an energy-efficient operating system, 3) a reliable network operation even in the case of node failures, 4) immunity to interference with other on board communications, and 5) no harmful electromagnetic radiation.

The data rate provided in the range of the body area network is in the order of 20 Mbit/s. Such a high data rate is not required for most sensor applications, however it shortens the duration of the communication process leading to less energy consumption compared to low-rate transmission. The reason for this energy saving is that the power consumption for high-rate communication is not increased by the same factor.

It also has a Sensor Node controller that receives external data from the BAN sensors. The Sensor Node Controller has a multi channel architecture that can manage multiple sensors and is able to scale with its unique micro modular sensor software stacks. As new sensors are added to the BAN, the Sensor Node Controller assigns a unique address code per channel. The sensor application software manages and aggregates the data that is processed and transmitted to the heads up display and is communicated to the IC and other members of the cluster if needed.