A NATO-interoperable, tactical command and control system for land forces

There is a need for an automated architecture engineering tool to support advanced communication networking efforts. Agencies, such as the US Army's Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and Program Executive Office Command, Control, and Communications Systems (PEO-C3S) have the requirement for a suite of applications to provide detailed diagramming, definition and analysis. Many COTS and GOTS products are available to perform some of the tasks required in analyzing, designing, developing, and implementing a network. Many tools which are graphically oriented for use in designing a network, do not provide the capability of automated analysis. While many other network analysis tools are not graphical or user-friendly, they lack the ability to store relevant user data. Some of the information to populate the network architectures exists in inventory databases but the data is not easily accessible and does not contain all the information required.

A description is given of the US Army Communications-Electronics Command's management metrics program, a common-sense approach for addressing the life-cycle problems facing program managers of mission-critical systems. The metrics set used by the program is examined, and its application is discussed. The planned upgrade to the baseline set of indicators is described.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

One of the crucial goals of the US Army is to have location information and access to continuous communication for all personnel and equipment in the battlefield. Unfortunately, most tactical command and control vehicles only have line of sight (LOS) tactical radios that are severely range-limited. These tactical radios, without the assistance of radio relays, do not provide coverage over the needed 10's of kilometers of the battlefield. One alternative to provide beyond LOS communications is to use satellite technology. In the past, this was an expensive alternative for continuous communications, and ground terminals capable of supporting medium data rate (MDR) satellite communications (SATCOM) service on-the-move were not available. However, the competition in this market over the past few years has significantly decreased the cost of both the satellite equipment and satellite time. The MITRE Corporation is investigating the technology of SA TCOM on-the-move (SOTM) for the US Army Ground Mobile Forces. The focus of the project is to develop the capability using current Ku-band commercial satellites and eventually migrate to future DOD-owned Ka-band satellites that will support high bandwidth on demand type services (i.e., Wideband Gapfiller Satellite). The primary effort of the project is to develop a low-cost integrated terminal capable of providing MDR performance (256 kbps target). There are several technological hurdles to overcome in the design and building of a SOTM terminal designed for operation over commercial Ku-band satellites. This paper focuses on the modem performance in this system including the background analysis done, determining the need for a spread modem, the parameters required for the modem and the methodology and results of both lab testing and field testing of the modem. The performance of the modem was evaluated in an environment with noise, multipath, changing Doppler and frequent signal loss. Finally, the satellite channel was validated through signal and delay spread testing.

This is a technical historical chronicle of the past and on-going development of performance models for electro-opticalsensors carried out by the U.S. Army CECOM NVESD, the original Night Vision Laboratory. The emphasis has been onthermal imaging models and is also the focus ofthis paper. The origin ofthe Johnson criteria is shown and the resultingmodels that have evolved from the original concept proposed by John Johnson. The present formulations ofthe models aredetailed and the newest developments are introduced. The force that drives the various improvements in the models is thedevelopment ofmore sophisticated thermal imagers whose performance must be described and predicted. Backgroundsupporting developments in laboratory measurements and field validation are indicated.Keywords: FLIR modeling; thermal imagers; Johnson criteria; Minimum resolvable temperature; Mmimum detectabletemperature; detection; recognition; identification. 1. Introduction The development and fielding ofthermal imaging, or Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), systems by the U.S. Army over thelast 30 years has been led by the development and exercise ofvalidated performance models. These models were and still arebeing improved by the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Research, Development &Engineering Center's (RDEC) Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) at Ft. Belvoir, VA. This modelingapproach has been adopted by the other services, NATO and industry to optimize designs, predict operational performance,select contractor proposals and generate performance specifications. The modeling approach is based upon the uniqueconcept ofJohn Johnson ofNVESD that relates a laboratory measurement ofresolvable cycles across a target to targetacquisition performance in the field. This innovative concept when coupled with extensive validation data from thelaboratory and the field has provided a powerful tool for the infrared and thermal imaging community. Models have alsobeen developed based on this same principle for otherelectro-optical imaging systems, such as image intensifiers andtelevision. This paper will concentrate primarily on the FLIR modeling.

McDermott Technology, Inc. (MTI) and JX Crystals have developed an innovative design for a compact, 500-watt, thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power supply using diesel fuel. Under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and managed by the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), this design is being reduced to hardware. Prototypes of the two main subsystems, the power converter assembly (PCA) and the burner/emitter/recuperator (BER), have been designed, fabricated, and tested. The PCA uses low-band-gap gallium antimonide (GaSb) photovoltaic (PV) cells for high efficiency and power density. The prototype PCA will be air cooled for system simplicity and portability. However, initial testing was performed on a water-cooled PCA. The BER uses a thermal vaporizer to produce a stable, high-intensity, low-emissions combustion zone inside an impervious emitter. A thermally integrated recuperator is utilized to boost system efficiency by transferring the unused energy in the exhaust stream to the incoming fuel and combustion air. This paper describes the design, testing and performance of the first-generation PCA and BER along with model predictions used for design and evaluation.

This whitepaper examines the applicability of gesture-based user interfaces in notional Command-and-Control (C2) environments of the United States Army. It was authored by a team of Human Factors Engineers at The MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit research and development organization funded by the United States Government. Since MITRE resides in a not-for-profit advisory position to their federal sponsors, the research team was able to take an unbiased perspective driven solely by identified issues, the search for improved workflows, and practical opportunities for technology development. The goal of the effort was to inform the US Army community so that it can make responsible, needs-driven decisions regarding gestural interface technologies, and avoid the potential pitfalls that may arise from technology-centered or profit-driven decisions.The problems focused upon by this research primarily revolved around the collaborative human workflows that occur within Command-and-Control environments. Specifically, the effort targeted US Army-based C2 environments, such as a notional fixed command center, a mobile command center, and the environment of the dismounted soldier in the battlefield. The primary issue is that the currently-implemented technologies, while independently sufficient, present constraints when distributed personnel are collaborating across them. The research team addressed this cross-platform issue by adhering to a Systems Engineering framework that required a holistic approach to the “system” of distributed C2 personnel and their technologies. The goal for the final output was to demonstrate how these technologies may come together as a system to support a more efficient, dynamic, and effective operational workflow than today’s reality.After carefully examining the field of current and emerging gestural interface technologies, and mapping them against available HCI-related research findings, the team concluded that US Army personnel may indeed benefit from effectively and appropriately implemented technologies from this domain. At a high level, gestural technologies offer C2 personnel an ability to conduct more efficient and collaborative workflows across distributed environments. The exact details of these workflows, including the key users, actions, and technology paradigms, are outlined in the content of the whitepaper. In an effort to be as prescriptive as possible, the research team decided that it would be valuable to include a sizable section within the whitepaper dedicated to instructing the user on how to implement gestural technologies for C2 application. In this section, they outline the key design patterns to selecting proper solutions and developing effective interaction design frameworks. The nature of this instructional portion ranges from highlevel design principles and best practices down to detailed visual demonstrations of recommended gestures.KeywordsMulti-touch & Tangible User InterfacesImmersive ComputingMulti-modal CollaborationInteractive Surface InterfaceWIMP InterfaceGraphical User Interfaces (GUI)Multi-Touch SurfaceTangible Interfaces3D User InterfacesWearable Computing

The United States Army is currently developing many tactical Command, Control, and Communications (C) systems for use in the Echelons Above Corps (EAC), Corps, and the Division areas. The inherent complexity of the new battlefield communications systems demands the ability to process large amounts of information necessary to plan, deploy, and control these systems. This paper analyzes these information processing needs and proposes a common software aschitecture for the management of tactical C3 systems.

One of the major requirements of a Command and Control (C2) system is to gather and distribute information. By bringing these systems under a network centric warfare architecture brings an integrated C2 system of systems. In this paper, information is given on current and near term air defence, fire support and battle management C2 systems. Capabilities for network centric warfare architecture are mentioned by applying of these capabilities to tactical C2 systems.

: The Air Force uses tactical command and control C2 systems to task and manage theater combat missions and responses to crisis situations. While current and planned C2 systems are heavily dependent on teams which operate elements of the system, team performance has not beem formally studied or recognized as important. To partially address this situation, the Air Force Human Resources Laboratory has begun a research program on tactical C2 teams. The overall goal of the program is to improve the effectiveness of tactical C2 team performance. The present study addresses this measurement issue. The research involved three steps. First, the literature on C2 units was reviewed, and site visits were made to two tactical and one strategic C2 unit in order to get background on C2 teams. The result of the first step was the selection of two tactical C2 teams for intensive analysis. Second, personnel from these two teams were interviewed, and exercises in which the two teams participated were observed. This step was used to identify critical individual and team tasks and to determine the ways in which the teams are currently evaluated. Third, a team dimesions taxonomy that had been previously developed by the Advanced Research Resources Organization was studied as the basis for developing an assessment instrument. A prototype of the instrument was prepared. It was proposed that the team dimensions be rated using simple scales measuring occurrence, time of occurrence, and reactivity. The prototype instrument concerns one component of team performance: team functions. Other criteria of team performance discussed in the report are productivity, individual member ability, and motivation.

The purpose of the CHI '89 Workshop on Real-Time, Decision Support Computer-Human Interaction was to explore issues facing users of crucial real-time, decision support computer systems such as air traffic control computers, tactical command and control systems, and missile warning computers. The workshop built on ideas presented at an earlier workshop at CHI '88 (1).

: Each day, sophisticated information systems provide the U.S. with crucial capabilities both to understand the world situation and to react effectively as required by our nation's decision makers. These systems attest to the success of the cooperative efforts of government and industry. Over the last 35 years, to help provide those capabilities, The MITRE Corporation has been privileged to fulfill the role of systems engineer on more than 100 different command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems for the Air Force and other elements of the Department of Defense (DOD). A long history of successful performance in this broad role provides MITRE with detailed knowledge of the systems' operational capabilities and needs, proficiency in their systems engineering, and a C3I-related corporate memory unmatched by any other organization. That background is the foundation of this book on systems engineering at MITRE.

AESOP is an experimental on-line information control system realized in the Systems Design Laboratory of The MITRE Corporation. It serves as a prototype for a class of management or command information systems capable of giving the members of the using organization as much on-line control over system performance as possible. It is a CRT display-oriented system in that the user experiences the information system primarily through his CRT displays and exercises his control through his light pencil. This control is not limited to that level of the organization responsible for programming the system, but applies upward to the highest level of executive personnel interested in obtaining direct access to the system.

A team of leading American military historians here investigate the factors that shaped the United States Army in the nineteenth century. Throwing new light on its history, this deeply researched book explores a mulitplicity of themes. These include the social structure, command system and relationship with civil power which are all important in assessing its efficiency and behaviour in war; and the way the army is depicted in military literature and cinema which affects its social portrait. Deliberately exploring neglected themes, this key work includes discussion on: * the roles of the many volunteer colonels in the Mexican War, 1846-48 * Robert Wettemann and the alleged 'isolation' of the US Army in the nineteenth century * John Ford's famous 'cavalry trilogy' of motion pictures. Containing so much food for thought, for students of US history and military history this is an entertaining as well as instructional book.

Low pollution, low energy consumption and sustainable development have become the development direction of China's construction industry. The traditional two-dimensional design environment is not suitable for architectural design requirements. Based on the concept of BIM, this paper presents a lightweight architecture design system based on database and Auto CAD. Firstly, this paper summarizes the related technologies involved in the lightweight architectural design system based on Auto CAD, mainly including Auto CAD extended development technology and SQL Server database; secondly, it analyzes the business process of architectural design, and carries out the system requirement modeling and data modeling; secondly, combining with the hierarchical software design idea, the system application architecture is given, and the system function module design and database design are carried out, By setting the plane, elevation and section view of the model, the multi view generation based on unified data is realized, and the statistics of component information is realized by querying the model database.

PrefaceSustainable development is actually an important topic which needs the attention of the society. The civil engineering is figured as one of the most impacting domains on the environment because of numerous problems such as the energy consumption, the CO2 emission and the natural resource depletion. Alternative solutions have been searched during the last decades to reduce environmental impacts of the civil engineering sector. Different approaches have been proposed: reducing the energy consumption by using low-embodied energy materials (“eco-materials”); developing the energy-efficient buildings with high thermal performance, with renewable energy integrations (solar, wind, geothermal, etc.), or by using the eco-architecture principles to optimize the energy consumption of the buildings. Today, sustainable development in civil engineering is not still restrained at a building scale but the city scale should be considered: the transport of the occupants between their residence and their work, the energy loss in the energy distribution network, etc.In this context, the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Development in Civil, Urban and Transportation Engineering (CUTE 2018) is organized at Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, from 17 to 19 April 2018. This conference is organized by Ton Duc Thang University (Vietnam) in cooperation with Université Savoie Mont Blanc (France), Hasselt University (Belgium), Technical University of Ostrava (Czech), Wrocław University of Technology (Poland) and University of Trieste (Italy). This is the second edition after the first conference which was organized in 2016. The main scope of CUTE 2018 conference is to propose an exchange platform for different approaches which can contribute to the sustainability of the civil engineering sector: investigations on sustainable materials and structures; intelligent principles in architecture design; sustainable solutions in transportation and urban planning.The host organization Ton Duc Thang University is gratefully acknowledged for the administrative and logistical support. The co-organizer universities are thanked for their cooperation and support.The sponsors of the conference are gratefully acknowledged for their financial supports.The organizers would like also to thank Honorary Chairs, Conference Chairs, International Scientific Committee, and Local Organizing Committee.EditorsQuoc-Bao BUI, Radim CAJKA, Minh-Tung TRAN, Tu-Anh TRINH Ansar-Ul-Haque YASAR, Geert WETS, Monika WOLOSZYN