SBIR-STTR Award

Quality Research Proposes to develop a virtual reality tool to support real-time battle management of an interactive combat network extending over several echelons and across several types of nets. The tool, called the Virtual Reality Battle Management Command, Control, and Telecommunications (BT) approach to C3 net visualization and will provide invaluable assistance to simulation managers and battle field commanders in designing and optimizing complex data networks. The BT C3 net visualization technique and accredited communication models will be incorporated into the VR BMC3 Net Tool using an open architecture, platform independent approach. The Phase I effort of this project has four objectives: (1) Show the feasibility of the BT C3 Net visualization technique; (2) Show the feasibility of the VR BMC3 Net Tool to aid network planners; (3) Show the ability to incorporate accredited communication models into VR BMC3 Net Tool; and (4) Show the ability to develop a tool on low cost platform using COTS open architecture approach. Phase I of the VR BMC3 Net Tool Project will consist of four major activities -C3 Network Analysis, Communication Model Selection, Virtual Reality Prototype Development, and Feasibility Report Generation. The VR BMC3 Net Tool has several anticipated benefits and commercial applications. The strongest benefit is an improved C3 net analysis capability for the commander in the field, whether a simulated battle field or a real battle field. In addition, VR BMC3 Net Tool has numerous commercial applications - commercial communication networks, power grid and utility networks, wireless cable television, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), operations and training.

Keywords:
VIRTUAL REALITY OPEN ARCHITECTURE BATTLE MANAGEMENT COMMAND AND CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS

The warfighter needs the ability to rapidly assimilate information regarding battlefield network status, potential actions, and their impacts on the network.. The Quality Research Team, with the support of the Phase I SBIR award, has developed a proof of concept prototype Virtual Reality Battle Management Tool for C3 Networks. This tool is called the Situational Awareness Virtual Environment for Networks (SAVENet). The objectives of this SBIR Phase II effort are: to expand SAVENet capabilities to include multiple types of networks; to expand Network Planning and Training capabilities; to improve SAVENet usability; to prove SAVENet usefulness in a field exercise; and to develop a Technology Transition Plan. The approach taken will be to enhance the SAVENet tool by collecting and analyzing requirements from the user community, incorporating user required functionality into the software, developing system and training documentation, and incorporating the use of the enhanced tool in a military exercise. The enhanced SAVENet tool will provide benefits to battlefield and commercial network managers by reducing the time required to recognize and respond to network events and by providing a platform for realistic and interactive training of network managers. The underlying SAVENet virtual reality technology has potential application to training systems, facility planning, law enforcement training, military operations in urban terrain training and planning, and commercial real-estate development visualization.

Keywords:
VIRTUAL REALITY NETWORK PLANNING BATTLE MANAGEMENT TRAINING COMMAND AND CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS