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RFCode: Robust Foveated Encoding

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Army 		Award ID:
91976 		Program Year/Program:
2010 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
A082-136-1440 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
ARMY 08-136 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
6011 West Courtyard Drive Bldg 5, Suite 300 Austin, TX 78730-
View profile »
Woman-Owned: Yes
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2010
Title: RFCode: Robust Foveated Encoding
Agency / Branch: DOD / ARMY
Contract: W911QX-10-C-0084
Award Amount: $729,998.00
 

Abstract:

The Robust Foveated Encoding (RFCode) Phase II effort will improve battlefield capabilities and situational awareness by generating a portable software library implementing an advanced video compression system for unreliable tactical networks. RFCode uses foveated (variable-resolution) video coding to reduce data volume while maintaining operational effectiveness, enabling a superior compression ratio. It then applies distributed coding schemes to provide robustness and graceful degradation under packet loss. RFCode algorithms are optimized using novel video quality metrics that better measure subjective human video quality perception (and therefore operational effectiveness) than traditional error metrics. The resulting software library will include a well-documented set of interfaces to support integration and configuration across a range of platforms. Performance is quantified with empirical analyses and is compared against baseline motion-JPEG (M-JPEG) and MPEG-4 Part 2 codecs. By building on the successful Phase I research and prototype and by leveraging our teamf?Ts directly relevant past work in foveated image exploitation, 21st Century Technologies will address the Armyf?Ts operational need to reliably transmit video over low bandwidth, low reliability tactical wireless networks. This will increase the battlefield utility of tactical systems that transmit and exploit real-time battlefield video.

Principal Investigator:

Ron Larcom
Principal Investigator
5126824730
rlarcom@21technologies.com

Business Contact:

Irene Williams
CEO
5126824700
SBIR_Admin@21technologies.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

21st Century Technologies Inc.
6011 West Courtyard Drive Bldg 5, Suite 300 Austin, TX 78730

EIN/Tax ID: 541719551
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
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