A hybrid architecture for visualization and decision making in battlespace environments

This article presents a hybrid software/hardware architecture for commander´s decision support in tactical operations. The architecture builds on the symbolic, object-oriented visualization software called Advanced Tactical Architecture for Combat Knowledge System (ATACKS). The extension discussed here is the design of a real-time robot agent layer that interacts wirelessly with ATACKS. This layer enacts decisions made by software agents (wargamers), continuously relays the execution states back to ATACKS, and updates its actions as advocated by replanning algorithms. The software layer is briefly described followed by the specification of the real-time requirements for the robotic architecture. The design and implementation are given with a small example that illustrates the hybrid system´s operation.