Author :
Richards, R. ; Stottler, R. ; Ball, B. ; Tasoluk, C.
Abstract :
We have developed and continue to enhance our automated intelligent software, which performs the tasks and decision making currently handled by the personnel manning the watch stations in the Combat Direction Center (CDC), the Task Force Combat Center (TFCC), on-board aircraft carriers, and other Navy ships. Integration of information from a variety of sources in a combat station is a complex task; surveillance guards can receive divergent information from on-board radars, sonar, and other sensors, and must assimilate and interpret even conflicting information in a timely manner to relay it up the chain of command. The intelligent identification software module (IISM) alleviates some of the burden placed on battle commanders by automating certain tasks, such as the management of historical data, disambiguating multiple track targets, assessing the threat level of targets, and even rejecting improbable data. IISM is interfaced to the Advanced Battle Station (ABS). Given tracking data and time stamps from ABS, IISM updates the history list of tracking and identification data, rejects nonsense tracks, compares recent history to past patterns of activity, alerts the commander via ABS when necessary, and provides customizable identifications of targets, as well as the threat level of each of these targets. IISM is also capable of correcting errors and recovering snap-shot and history data after unforeseen catastrophes. On a highly conceptual level, IISM is able to perform these tasks by viewing the target tracking as a classification problem of the threat levels that it assigns to the individual entities present in the situation. It maintains a consistent and reasonably approximate model of several entities´ attributes that are only partially perceivable. This, fundamentally, is the task of track handling and analysis currently being handled by human decision-makers. Put simply, IISM 1) determines, to a degree of certainty, the identity of an entity, 2) performs a path- analysis of the entities, and 3) infers abstract conclusions regarding the behavior of entities based on their movement over time. Stated another way, both positive and negative evidence is tracked to form multiple, possibly competing hypothesis, and conclusions of these tracks are made through a process of elimination reasoning. IISM is able to perform this complex task by utilizing certain AI-based solutions. IISM uses SimBionic, a visual authoring tool that outputs C++ code for fast execution. IISM also mimics the intelligent memory provided by current human track-watchers, including all track attributes (position, velocity, ID information, etc.), along with a time stamp for each. IISM also has system independence and will continue to remember the current tactical picture even if a tactical decision system go down, is very robust, has an automated system backup and restore function, and can even be saved to a file server to diminish physical vulnerabilities. IISM is an AI module that alleviates many of the burdens placed on battle commanders. It is a seamless enhancement to the current Advanced Battle Station, providing enhanced reasoning without the need for users to learn a new system
Keywords :
C++ language; artificial intelligence; decision making; knowledge based systems; military systems; surveillance; target tracking; ABS; AI module; C++ code; CDC; Combat Direction Center; IISM; SimBionic; TFCC; Task Force Combat Center; US Navy Combat Centers; advanced battle station; automated intelligent software; decision making; human decision-makers; intelligent identification software module; on-board aircraft carriers; personnel manning; surveillance guards; tactical decision system; target tracking; visual authoring tool; Decision making; Force sensors; History; Humans; Intelligent sensors; Personnel; Radar tracking; Software performance; Target tracking; Watches;