Automating Unmanned and Manned Sensor Performance in Demanding Tactical Environments Navy SBIR FY2013.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2013.1 Topic No.: N131-065 Topic Title: Automating Unmanned and Manned Sensor Performance in Demanding Tactical Environments Proposal No.: N131-065-0187 Firm: Lambda Science, Inc. P.O. Box 238 Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087-0238 Contact: Joseph Teti Phone: (610) 581-7940 Web Site: www.lamsci.com Abstract: Per the topic description, naval airborne sensor systems are utilizing or are planning to utilize varying degrees of automation in the prosecution of their missions as part of future naval capabilities. The automation must handle very dense maritime surface picture conditions that can exceed 1,000+ surface contacts that quickly become overwhelming for operators to adjudicate. A promising strategy to adjudicate the surface contact picture automatically is to optimally allocate the resources of airborne sensor suites that are typically deployed on manned and unmanned airborne platforms conducting ship self-defense and maritime surveillance operations. Early detection and classification of potential threats is possible using high range resolution and tracking radar. Additional classification is possible by combining EO/IR interrogation, and association with stored data and available off-board information. It is envisioned that a sensor suite resource manager (RM) would be employed to automatically construct the surface picture with the use of classification aids that leverage the merging of information from organic and inorganic sources. It is also desirable that the RM is capable of dynamically tasking the platform via flight profile changes in response to the evolving surface picture, taking into account mission profiles, OPSITs/TACSITs, platform kinematic capabilities, airspace restrictions, and threat profiles. In addition, the RM must have situational awareness of the local airspace traffic in order to conduct the mission effectively and maximize on-station time. Benefits: LSI's current and proposed efforts will provide research and development products that will comprise a complete methodology for integration of a real-time dynamic mission route and sensor planner that include as a subset an integrated TDA/RM/MCA capability within the OSI architecture. The current proposal for a real-time dynamic mission route and sensor planner fits well with ongoing activities and could be advanced in conjunction with follow-on SBIRs under this topic to support transition to MQ-8C and the SH-60R Programs. The transition success on the MQ-8C (PMA-266) and SH-60R (PMA-299) will allow LSI to pursue similar opportunities for transition on several Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Programs. Return