Through-water and through-ground wireless radio frequency (RF) technology for communication, navigation and power transfer +1 (703) 922-6999

World’s first Wireless Underground Robots for First Responders (WURFR)

Remote Control

WFS' patented through-water radio technology provides a revolutionary and reliable wireless remote control solution that maintains two-way communications between an operator and reciever. The operator has the ability to control the remote system with the touch of a button.  The system not only allows positive operator control, but it also can issue a shut down command if the operator and receiver are separated.

An example of this is the revolutionary wireless remote control solution delivered to WaveJet Personal Water Propulsion Systems. Using penetrating radio technology in the form of seatooth® S100, the solution maintains two-way communications between an operator wristband and tranceiver on a motorised surfboard, commanding an engine shutdown if the operator is separated from the board. 

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

Robotic Command & Control

• Wireless comms, location and power transfer
• Remote deployment in emergency situations 
• Streaming video through-ground

terratooth® systems can be integrated with robots to provide wireless communication, location, docking and power transfer functions. Real-time wireless command and control of a robot through the ground enables remote deployment in emergency situations for location of people trapped in caves, tunnels, culverts and collapsed buildings and also support mappings, maintenance and repair of underground sewers, waterways and pipes.

Video can be streamed through the ground using terratooth® to support operations where visual assessments are required, but human life cannot be risked (e.g. Search & Rescue) and the location of an underground vehicle can be established from the surface to pinpoint exact sites in tracking, search and rescue or reconnaissance missions.  terratooth® enables homing of a vehicle to a docking station to recharge using wireless power transfer or to transmit information without returning to the surface enabling deployment for longer missions.

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

Distributed Networked Sensors

• Robust integrated surveillance and communication
• Detect underwater intruders covertly
• Protect high value assets
  

Underwater networks consist of a variable number of sensors and vehicles that are deployed to perform collaborative monitoring tasks over an extended area.  Wide area networks interface to radio-based systems at the surface, such as network-centric warfare systems.

In 2007 WFS won a contract from the UK MoD "Competition of Ideas" to develop the key components of an electromagnetic sensing net for the purpose of Maritime Security and Force protection. Utilizing wireless technology developed by WFS to operate in poor quality waters and harbors with high ambient noise,  this system is a robust integrated surveillance and communication solution which enables high value assets to be protected while economizing manpower.

Any intruder (divers, UAV) crossing through the sensing net will be almost instantly detected and its characteristic size, movement and direction would trigger closer investigation.  Targeted at stationary vessels deployed outside home waters, as well as in ports, harbors, and offshore anchorages, the WFS sensing net can be erected round an asset to detect underwater intruders covertly, and without alerting the enemy.

Easy to deploy and operate, it offers protection from terrorists and enemy special forces, while the discrete nature of this wireless technology helps avoid the eventuality of a diplomatic upset.

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

Underwater Data Exfiltration

• Real-time sensor data
• Wireless transmission from beneath the surface
       to a receiver in air
• Immune to effects of acoustic conditions
  

Underwater sensor networks are a key component to the intelligence picture and retrieving real time sensor data in a complex environment can be challenging.

WFS modems will wirelessly beam data directly from beneath the surface to a receiver in air, eliminating the need for a hard-wired system. WFS wireless technology is also immune to any effects of tides, currents, temperature variations, or noisy acoustic conditions that can be caused by vessels or industrial sources.

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

CASE STUDIES:

AUV Command & Control

• Persistent change detection
• Real time reporting
• Secure navigation, communication, and data transfer
• Wireless docking and power

Unmanned underwater vehicles are a key component to surveying, sanitizing, and monitoring the underwater domain. Effective and persistent change detection and real time reporting are important characteristics of security C4ISR. seatooth® allows a UUV to keep in contact with shore controllers when controlling unmanned vehicles in a busy scenario and avoids UUVs operating in the same strata as manned surface craft.

Tethered vehicles are impractical in this environment and acoustic transmissions suffer from acoustic interference, reverberations, and multipath propagation. A pattern of radio transceivers on the sea bottom allows secure navigation, communication, and data transfer to a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle.

seatooth® takes the command & control application one step further by enabling a power + data docking station which allows a fleet of underwater vehicles to operate continuously; only needing to surface for maintenance. Presence of the vehicles remains covert. Today's WFS products transfer data underwater by patented broadband underwater Wi-Fi signals and power is transferred by inductive transformer coupling. Power to the docking station can be supplied by hard wire or by a wave power generator.

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

+power

terratooth+power brings together the capability to transmit and receive data wirelessly, and provide a wireless power source in one single unit. It incorporates short-range, high bandwidth radio frequency with navigation and location capabilities.

terratooth+power also features an inductive charging function that can provide power to Underground Vehicle (UGV) docks - wirelessly. The technology enables autonomous homing of a vehicle to a docking station where it can recharge without intervention or charge up other attached devices.

Image shows iRobot® Negotiator® with integrated WFS modem

+acoustic

seatooth+acoustic was developed to capture the best of both technologies for communication underwater.

The seatooth® range for radio communications, will communicate in shallow water where acoustic technology is limited, and will easily pass through the surface of the water into the air. Acoustics will not penetrate into the air, but will communicate at low bandwidth over a great distance, up to 20kms; whereas seatooth® communicates most effectively at short range. seatooth+acoustic can automatically select between acoustic or radio carriers where appropriate.

The combination of complementary RF and acoustic technologies can extend the capability of both seatooth® and a conventional acoustic modem, offering a robust solution for subsea challenges in deep water.

seatooth+acoustic is available as seatooth® A100 and A300.

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

+power

seatooth+power brings together the capability to transmit and receive data wirelessly, and provide a wireless power source in one single unit. It incorporates short-range, high bandwidth radio frequency with navigation and location capabilities.

seatooth+power also features an inductive charging function that can provide power to sensors, data loggers, control systems and autonomous under water vehicle (AUV) docks - wirelessly. The unit can recharge without intervention or charge up other devices attached to it, including sensors and data loggers.

Acoustic capability can also be incorporated into seatooth+power to provide a radio, acoustic and wireless power source in one single unit.

seatooth+power is available as seatooth® P100 and P300 (or with acoustic capability as seatooth® PA100 and PA300).

Download datasheet

WFS delivers revolutionary remote control solution to WaveJet Personal Water Propulsion Systems

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WFS Defense in the News

Unmanned Systems Volume 28 No. 2 - February 2010

Maritime Unmanned Vehicle Operators Seek Better Underwater Communication
by John M. Doyle

Mission demands-both military and civilian-continue to grow for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), ranging from clearing explosive mines to mapping the seafloor. But whether they skulk in the shallows of the littoral zone collecting intelligence or scan the oceans' depths for water temperature and salinity data, unmanned submersibles are only as effective as their communications system. And one major challenge to UUV and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) communication is the very environment they operate in-the underwater world.

Read the full article here

Georgetown Business Magazine Fall 2009

Unchartered Waters
by Corey Murray

As President and CEO of WFS Defense Inc, William Porter knows the value of clear communication.  A former naval officer and submarine commander, Porter spent months in deep underwater places where sending the simplest of communiqués topside sometimes proved daunting.

Read the full article here

If you would like to make an enquiry please use the contact details below

Latest Data from Dominion Gooses Reef

WFS-led Project shortlisted for The Engineer Technology and Innovation Awards 2010

WFS Defense and Partners deliver first radio-enabled UGV for through-ground C4ISR

WFS delivers wireless capability to AXYS WatchKeeper™ buoy for $2.5 million NOAA contract

Pioneering new frontiers: WFS completes field trials of wireless communication through ice

Diving into Ocean Innovation - Technology Ireland May 2010

Expansion of WFS global network of Partners

WFS Technologies wins “2010 Spotlight on New Technology” Award

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To purchase any of our products contact a WFS Distributor or your nearest WFS office.  To apply to become a WFS Distributor complete our online form here.

Sales Partners - Americas

TX, LA & MS, USA
C.A. Richards & Associates Inc
777 N ElridgePkwy, Suite 280
Houston, Texas,
USA
Contact: Chuck Richards
Tel: +1 281-531-7417
Fax: +1 281-531-7457
Email: chuck@carichards.com
Website: www.carichards.com

MA, RI, VT, NH & ME, USA
Oceanographic & Geophysical Instr (OGI)
1 Magnusson Ct,
Sandwich, MA 02537,
USA
Contact: Paul Igo
Tel: +1 508-888-4510
Email: pigo57@aol.com
Website: www.oginstruments.com

CT, NY, PA & NJ, USA
Electronic Sales of New England
33 Main Street Unit L,
Old Saybrook, CT 06475,
USA
Contact: Mark Warren
Tel: +1 860-388-1196
Cell: +1 860-884-8870
Fax: +1 860-388-1232
Email: info@esalesne.com
Website: www.esalesne.com

CA, AZ, NV & NM, USA
Ocean Innovations
7416 Cabrillo Ave,
La Jolla, CA 92037,
USA
Contact: Brock J. Rosenthal
Tel: +1 (858) 454-4044
Fax: +1 (858) 454-5775
Email: brock@o-vations.com
Website: www.o-vations.com

WA & OR, USA
Ocean Innovations
7416 Cabrillo Ave,
La Jolla, CA 92037,
USA
Contact: Ray Mahr
Tel: +1 (858) 454-4044
Fax: +1 (858) 454-5775
Email: ray@o-vations.com
Website: www.o-vations.com

Sales Partners - Canada

Western Region
Roper Resources
984 St Patrick Street,
Victoria BC, Canada,
V8S 4X5
Contact: Chris Roper
Tel: +1 (250) 361 9115
Canada Tel2: +1 (805) 798 0227
Email: chris@RoperResources.com
Website: http://www.roperresources.com/

Defense Partners - Europe

Netherlands
Safe Tactics BV
7 Siliciumweg 61B,
NL-3812 SW Amersfoort
The Netherlands
Contact: Peter Stolwerk
Tel: +31 (0)33 4480060
Email: info@safetactics.eu
Website: www.safetactics.eu

France
ITER
7 ZA d'Alery,
74960 Cran-Gevrier
France
Tel: +33 (0) 952 470 549
Fax: +33 (0) 957 470 549
Email: info@iter-company.com
Website: www.iter-company.com

Italy
Tempestini Group
Via Rende, 7 Roma,
00178 Italy
Contact: lngelo Tempestini
Tel: +39 067180686
Fax: +39 67183198
Email: info@tempestini.it
Website: www.tempestini.it

Defense Partners - Asia Pacific 

Japan
Jupitor Corporation
3-17-4, Minami Aoyama,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0062,
Japan
Contact: Akihisa Hishida
Tel: +81-3-3403-1311
Fax: +81-3-3403-1319
Email: a_hishida@jupitor.co.jp
Website: http://www.jupitor.co.jp/

Singapore
Precision Technologies PTE Ltd
211 Henderson Road,
#13-02 Henderson Industrial Park,
Singapore 159552
Contact: Richard Wong
Tel: +65 6273 4573
Fax: +65 6273 8898
Email: precision@pretech.com.sg
Website: www.pretech.com.sg

Datasheets

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Events

WFS Technologies regularly exhibits at global trade shows and conferences. To get the chance to talk in person with our experienced and friendly representatives, please make a note of the dates and booth numbers at the relevant events. For more information or to arrange a meeting at our booth please contact: info@wfsdefense.com    


AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America 2011
16-19 August 2011
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC, United States
Booth 1359

DSEi 2011
13-16 September 2011
ExCeL London
Booth N7-182

News

Diving into Ocean Innovation - Technology Ireland May 2010

Anthony King reports on Irish innovation in the ocean, and a new strategy and innovation cluster seeking to marry marine resources with established ICT capability.

Read the full article here

Expansion of WFS global network of Partners

WFS expands global presence with the recruitment of four new Channel Partners in Europe across the territories of Italy, Norway, Spain & Portugal and Benelux.

Download full press release as a PDF

WFS delivers wireless capability to Beerenberg‘s subsea Conductor Cutting Tool (CCT)

Applications

WFS’s wireless communications technology enhances defense systems by delivering real-time data transmission through water and through ground.

Data transfer is unaffected by harsh weather conditions or ambient noise and the technology will operate in shallow and congested waters, thus enabling communication in complex environments such as ports and harbours, estuaries, and waterways. WFS has an accomplished chronology of experience designing, manufacturing and installing wireless communication and sensing products to the UK Ministry of Defence and related companies.  Applications include;

• AUV Command & Control
• Underwater Data Exfiltration
• Networked Sensors
• Robotic Command & Control
• Underwater/Underground Voice
• Remote Control

Our Expertise

About WFS Defense

WFS Defense was formed in 2008, as the US subsidiary of UK-based WFS Technologies, Ltd. The company was created to better serve the US Defense and Homeland Security sectors with innovative and cost-effective wireless communications and telemetry solutions.

WFS was founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2003 and began research into through-water and through-ground RF communications the following year. The company launched the world's first commercial underwater RF modem in 2006, winning the UK Ministry of Defense Top Innovation Award later that year.

WFS's disruptive technology is revolutionizing control and communications in underwater and underground environments. Underwater radio frequency (RF) technology has the distinct advantage that it will operate in adverse conditions where acoustic and optical technologies are challenged.

WFS's products also support data transmission across the water/air, water/ground, and ground/air boundaries, penetrating through the surf zone, ice, harbor walls, and materials normally considered impenetrable.

WFS has four core product segments:

• low power, compact modems
• low bandwidth modems
• broadband through-water/ground modems
• hybrid modems: RF+acoustic, RF+power, RF+acoustic+power

In addition to the Defense and Homeland Security sectors, WFS also serves worldwide customers in the Energy and Environmental industries, providing products and solutions for AUV control, subsea wireless data and power transfer solutions, and wireless sensor communications.

terratooth®

Through-ground and through-air wireless technology

terratooth® provides 2-way, penetrating, wireless low frequency communications though the air and ground at data rates of 10bps -100kbps and will communicate through materials that are normally considered impenetrable to conventional techniques such as: rock, soil, reinforced concrete and other solid materials.

terratooth® can be integrated easily with other systems to extend the range of application and if required, can be provided in an application specific enclosure (i.e. man portable rucksack). terratooth® successfully delivers substantial operational and cost-effective solutions to the Defense & Homeland Security community.

terratooth® is available as T100 and T300 and terraphone® as well as terratooth+power (with inductive power transfer capability).

Learn More

DOWNLOAD PRODUCT DATASHEETS

seatooth®

seatooth® uses the latest in wireless technology to enable near-field transmission of data and power through-water, and highly accurate navigation.

Available as a standard sized modem, as a hybrid solution or in compact form, seatooth® transmits data, power and compressed video reliably in challenging environments where traditional underwater communications methods can suffer poor performance, such as in littoral or shallow waters, in congested environments (ports & harbours) or in water with high turbidity levels.

seatooth® signal can penetrate water, air, across the air/water interface and even through solid material (seabed, ground, harbour walls, ice) to allow two-way, reliable communications and data transfer at high data rates and with low latency.

Compact, low power radio modem. seatooth® S100 delivers communication and location data wirelessly through-water in a low power, compact form factor. Due to its compact size, ease of deployment and low power consumption, S100 is ideally suited for a wide variety of applications including radio frequency identification (RFID), remote sensing, networks and wireless SCADA applications. 

High data rate, broadband link.  seatooth® S300 transmits data, power and compressed video reliably in challenging environments at higher data rates. Applications include high speed data transfer between underwater sensors and unmanned underwater vehicles (ROVs and AUVs).

Download datasheet

Products

seatooth^® 

Through-water and through-ice wireless technology

The seatooth® range uses the latest in wireless technology to enable near-field transmission of data, through-water and ground, and highly accurate navigation.

Available as a standard sized modem (seatooth® S200 or S300)  and in compact form factor, (seatooth® S100) seatooth® transmits data, power and compressed video reliably in challenging environments where traditional underwater communications methods can suffer poor performance e.g. littoral or shallow waters, in congested environments (ports & harbours) or in water with high turbidity levels.

seatooth® signal can penetrate water, air, across the air/water interface and even through solid material (seabed, ground, harbour walls, ice) to allow two-way, reliable communications and data transfer at high data rates and with low latency.

seatooth® is available as S100, S200, S300 and seaphone as well as seatooth+power (with inductive power transfer capability) and seatooth+acoustic (with hybrid acoustic capability).

Learn more

terratooth^®

Through-ground and through-air wireless technology

terratooth® provides 2-way, penetrating, wireless low frequency communications though the air and ground at data rates of 10bps -100kbps and will communicate through materials that are normally considered impenetrable to conventional techniques such as: rock, soil, reinforced concrete and other solid materials.

terratooth® can be integrated easily with other systems to extend the range of application and if required, can be provided in an application specific enclosure (i.e. man portable rucksack). terratooth® successfully delivers substantial operational and cost-effective solutions to the Defense & Homeland Security community.

terratooth® is available as T100, T200, T300 and terraphone® as well as terratooth+power (with inductive power transfer capability).

Learn More

For more information, download a datasheet or contact us at info@wfsdefense.com

Career Opportunities

Are you looking for a job that is out of the ordinary?

WFS Defense has a team of professionals who work in a unique environment. Our employees are distinguished by their ingenuity, creativity and motivation. As a growing company, we offer our members of staff a dynamic career that is both stimulating and challenging.

Thank you for your interest.  WFS Defense has no current vacancies.

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World leader in advanced military communication

WFS Defense is the world's leading supplier of through-water and through-ground wireless technology for communication, navigation and power transfer. Utilizing radio, acoustic and inductive power transfer technologies, our field proven expertise in wireless connectivity is delivering cost savings and new capabilities to the Homeland Security and Defense industries.

Communicate Through Water	Communicate Through Ground, Tunnels & Caves	Comms Across Air, Water, Ground and Ice Interface
Our systems can operate in environments where acoustic and optical systems are challenged.	Our systems provide real-time penetrating communications, including video, from inside buried structures.	We have adapted technology first developed by the U.S. Navy for continuous, 2-way LF/ELF radio communications to submarines, SDVs and AUVs.
Wireless Data and Power Transfer	Navigation, Sensing and Sensor Networks	Port Security and Intruder Detection
Wireless subsea data and power transfer is bringing about a revolution in underwater AUV docking and remote sensor deployment.	A WFS-linked underwater sensor network will perform in adverse environments, relaying data securely within the network.	WFS has developed technology that provides tripwire systems that are harmless to sea life.