Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, ASA(ALT), Phase I
Multi-Spectrum Combat Identification Target Silhouette (MCITS)
Topic Objective
Design and develop a technology approach/solution to create and provide realistic multi-spectral (i.e. infrared (IR), radar, Identification of Friend/Foe (IFF), electro-magnetic (EM), etc.) and other visual Combat Identification signatures in support of the live fire training domain. The capability must support armor and aviation gunnery training doctrine. The capability must be modular, low cost to procure and maintain and most importantly, not damaged by live fire engagements against the silhouettes.
Description
During combat vehicle and aviation live fire gunnery training events, there hasn’t been technology to provide accurate hostile/neutral/friendly multi-spectral representations to the training unit. Current training dogma does not allow the training unit to utilize all of the resources and capabilities of the combat systems to maximize training opportunities. This technology will:
- Align to the train as you fight philosophy
- Provide radar reflectivity signatures
- Provide electro-magnetic signatures/responses
- Provide real-time infrared/thermal signatures
- Incorporate Identification of Friend/Foe (IFF) responses to interrogations
The technology will allow the target silhouettes to provide realistic representation of actual vehicles across multi-spectral tactical equipment. The target silhouette should ‘look’ like the real vehicle relative to radar reflectivity, infrared signatures, electro-magnetic signatures, and IFF responses.
Since the training ranges, and target systems support many training events, the technology must allow for the programming of effects/responses. The same silhouette must be able to replicate a T-72, a battel tank, in one training event and a Stryker, a helicopter, in the next with nothing more than software parameter modifications. The dynamic configuration of the target silhouettes will enable active links between Live Fire Training and the Synthetic Training Environment (STE). This will allow STE enabled training systems to ‘drive’ the threat representations without need for live fire training range reconfiguration.
The technology solution will be utilized worldwide within the open air live fire training environments throughout a year (exposed to rain, snow, solar effects, wind, dust, etc.). The technology solution will be permanently installed in a target emplacement. Currently, Armor Live Fire Target Silhouettes are utilized on approximately 200 ranges; with 30 systems each with the silhouettes replaced every 20 days (10 times a year).
The technology and research elements should utilize a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) toward fulfillment of the performance objectives; could be one box or many as long as interoperability is achieved.
The S&T of the effort is the mechanism, processes, and approaches to achieve the effects. The solution(s) must support an eventual safety certification. Space limitations will apply, and will be driven to the space available within a live fire target emplacement (refer to TC 25-8 and CEHNC 1110-1-23). No hazardous materials will be used within the approach or solution.
The design must support normal training operations of three to five days between maintenance actions (number of actuations will vary by training event and signature replication).
Phase I
Determine the feasibility and approach of developing a modular multi-spectrum Combat Identification Target Silhouette (MCITS) solution. The study shall explore and determine the solutions for creating the realistic signatures for the multi-spectrum elements. The study shall determine the design capacity based on the various training use cases, and develop the design approach to ensure training requirements can be supported. The study shall consider the environmental impacts and ballistic protection schemas as required.
Phase II
Continuation and realization of the research and development constructs investigated during Phase I. The Phase II efforts will focus on the lab development of proof of principle concepts supporting the generation of realistic multi-spectral signatures. The individual modular elements will be integrated together to ensure compatibility of the technologies into a singular prototype solution.
Develop a prototype Modular Combat Identification Target Silhouette (MCITS) technology solution for integration with existing FASIT Stationary Armor Target (SAT) and Moving Armor Target (MAT) Presentation Devices (i.e., target lifters). At a minimum, the prototypes will consist of one each frontal and flank target silhouette. The prototype will demonstrate the technology’s ability to create accurate multi-spectral responses back to the training unit/vehicle/airframe in support of threat and combat identification based on scenario parameters. The prototype will demonstrate the technology’s ability to align with the Live Training Transformation (LT2) product line in terms of common command and control (via Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) interfaces/contracts).
The prototype demonstration of the technology will be performed at an existing Army live fire training range prior to the completion of the Phase II activities. The expectation is to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 upon Phase II completion.
Phase III
Transition technology to the Army Program of Record (POR) called Future Army System of Integrated Targets (FASIT). The technology would be viable for both digital and non-digital ranges, and other live fire training ranges where accurate multi-spectral target representations are required to support combat identification. The developed technology would have applicability to both the force-on-force training domain, and live fire test and evaluation environments.
To the maximum extent practicable, models should leverage Synthetic Training Environment (STE) representations, or be driven by them in a training event.
Commercial applications include gaming and law enforcement applications.
Submission Information
To submit full proposal packages, and for more information, visit the DSIP Portal.
References:
. TC 3-04.3 Aviation Gunnery . TC 3-20.31 Crew Training and Qualification . Worden, Brian P.; “Increasing Realism in Virtual Marksmanship Simulators”; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF INFORMATION SCIENCES . Rick Evertsz, et al; “Enhanced Behavioral Realism for Live Fire Targets”; Proceedings of the 23rd Conference on Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation. . P. Talbot, A. M. Konn and C. Brosseau, “Electromagnetic characterization of fine-scale particulate composite materials”, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, vol. 249, no. 3, pp. 481-485, Sep. 2002 . W.J. Gajda, Jr., “A Foundamental Study of the Electromagnetic Propertieis of Advanced Composite Materials”, RADC-TR-78-158, July, 1978, A059029 . J.L. Allen et al, “Electronmagnetic Properties and Effects of Advanced Composite Materials:
Topic Objective
Design and develop a technology approach/solution to create and provide realistic multi-spectral (i.e. infrared (IR), radar, Identification of Friend/Foe (IFF), electro-magnetic (EM), etc.) and other visual Combat Identification signatures in support of the live fire training domain. The capability must support armor and aviation gunnery training doctrine. The capability must be modular, low cost to procure and maintain and most importantly, not damaged by live fire engagements against the silhouettes.
Description
During combat vehicle and aviation live fire gunnery training events, there hasn’t been technology to provide accurate hostile/neutral/friendly multi-spectral representations to the training unit. Current training dogma does not allow the training unit to utilize all of the resources and capabilities of the combat systems to maximize training opportunities. This technology will:
- Align to the train as you fight philosophy
- Provide radar reflectivity signatures
- Provide electro-magnetic signatures/responses
- Provide real-time infrared/thermal signatures
- Incorporate Identification of Friend/Foe (IFF) responses to interrogations
The technology will allow the target silhouettes to provide realistic representation of actual vehicles across multi-spectral tactical equipment. The target silhouette should ‘look’ like the real vehicle relative to radar reflectivity, infrared signatures, electro-magnetic signatures, and IFF responses.
Since the training ranges, and target systems support many training events, the technology must allow for the programming of effects/responses. The same silhouette must be able to replicate a T-72, a battel tank, in one training event and a Stryker, a helicopter, in the next with nothing more than software parameter modifications. The dynamic configuration of the target silhouettes will enable active links between Live Fire Training and the Synthetic Training Environment (STE). This will allow STE enabled training systems to ‘drive’ the threat representations without need for live fire training range reconfiguration.
The technology solution will be utilized worldwide within the open air live fire training environments throughout a year (exposed to rain, snow, solar effects, wind, dust, etc.). The technology solution will be permanently installed in a target emplacement. Currently, Armor Live Fire Target Silhouettes are utilized on approximately 200 ranges; with 30 systems each with the silhouettes replaced every 20 days (10 times a year).
The technology and research elements should utilize a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) toward fulfillment of the performance objectives; could be one box or many as long as interoperability is achieved.
The S&T of the effort is the mechanism, processes, and approaches to achieve the effects. The solution(s) must support an eventual safety certification. Space limitations will apply, and will be driven to the space available within a live fire target emplacement (refer to TC 25-8 and CEHNC 1110-1-23). No hazardous materials will be used within the approach or solution.
The design must support normal training operations of three to five days between maintenance actions (number of actuations will vary by training event and signature replication).
Phase I
Determine the feasibility and approach of developing a modular multi-spectrum Combat Identification Target Silhouette (MCITS) solution. The study shall explore and determine the solutions for creating the realistic signatures for the multi-spectrum elements. The study shall determine the design capacity based on the various training use cases, and develop the design approach to ensure training requirements can be supported. The study shall consider the environmental impacts and ballistic protection schemas as required.
Phase II
Continuation and realization of the research and development constructs investigated during Phase I. The Phase II efforts will focus on the lab development of proof of principle concepts supporting the generation of realistic multi-spectral signatures. The individual modular elements will be integrated together to ensure compatibility of the technologies into a singular prototype solution.
Develop a prototype Modular Combat Identification Target Silhouette (MCITS) technology solution for integration with existing FASIT Stationary Armor Target (SAT) and Moving Armor Target (MAT) Presentation Devices (i.e., target lifters). At a minimum, the prototypes will consist of one each frontal and flank target silhouette. The prototype will demonstrate the technology’s ability to create accurate multi-spectral responses back to the training unit/vehicle/airframe in support of threat and combat identification based on scenario parameters. The prototype will demonstrate the technology’s ability to align with the Live Training Transformation (LT2) product line in terms of common command and control (via Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) interfaces/contracts).
The prototype demonstration of the technology will be performed at an existing Army live fire training range prior to the completion of the Phase II activities. The expectation is to achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 upon Phase II completion.
Phase III
Transition technology to the Army Program of Record (POR) called Future Army System of Integrated Targets (FASIT). The technology would be viable for both digital and non-digital ranges, and other live fire training ranges where accurate multi-spectral target representations are required to support combat identification. The developed technology would have applicability to both the force-on-force training domain, and live fire test and evaluation environments.
To the maximum extent practicable, models should leverage Synthetic Training Environment (STE) representations, or be driven by them in a training event.
Commercial applications include gaming and law enforcement applications.
Submission Information
To submit full proposal packages, and for more information, visit the DSIP Portal.
References:
. TC 3-04.3 Aviation Gunnery . TC 3-20.31 Crew Training and Qualification . Worden, Brian P.; “Increasing Realism in Virtual Marksmanship Simulators”; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF INFORMATION SCIENCES . Rick Evertsz, et al; “Enhanced Behavioral Realism for Live Fire Targets”; Proceedings of the 23rd Conference on Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation. . P. Talbot, A. M. Konn and C. Brosseau, “Electromagnetic characterization of fine-scale particulate composite materials”, Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, vol. 249, no. 3, pp. 481-485, Sep. 2002 . W.J. Gajda, Jr., “A Foundamental Study of the Electromagnetic Propertieis of Advanced Composite Materials”, RADC-TR-78-158, July, 1978, A059029 . J.L. Allen et al, “Electronmagnetic Properties and Effects of Advanced Composite Materials: