STONewsArchive: Interoperability & Networking of Disparate Sensors and Platforms for Tactical ISR Applications conducts successful live experiment

Title: Interoperability & Networking of Disparate Sensors and Platforms for Tactical ISR Applications conducts successful live experiment
Start_Publishing: 01/03/2022
Panel_Page: SET
Page_ID: 3868
Main_Body_Multi: SET-256, Interoperability & Networking of Disparate Sensors and Platforms for Tactical ISR Applications conducts successful live experimen

S. Toth (DEVCOM ARL-USA), S. Bolling (NMO-USA), N. Hueber (ISL-FRA), W. Hughes (DEVCOM ARL-USA), P. Maupin (DRDC-CA), M. Mellini (DEVCOM AC-USA), M. Murray (NMO-USA), E. Seminerio (DEVCOM AC-USA), A. Shakir (DSTL-GBR), P. Thomas (DSTL-GBR), M. Ulmke (Fraunhofer FKIE-GER), M. Velera (Fraunhofer FKIE- GER

Motivation

NATO forces currently cannot effectively take advantage of available disparate mobile and fixed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets (e.g., sensors, cameras, unattended ground sensors, etc.) from coalition partners during coalition ground operations. Coalition partners must provide all of the ISR assets they need respectively, which creates significantly increased costs in logistics, sustainment, and required personnel. The objective of SET-256 was to support the tactical commander’s decision-making process by increasing information availability from multi-national ISR capabilities and systems. Currently, coalition forces do not share sensor data effectively, resulting in incomplete situational awareness, which unnecessarily exposes NATO personnel to threats.

Results

Four countries participated in the trial in September 2021 at Portsmouth, UK. France, USA, and UK participated in person. Canada participated virtually. Germany had to withdraw due to COVID concerns. Each nation brought sensors to the experiment, with the UK providing the network architecture, facilities, personnel, and trials management.


 SET-256 identified four hypothesis for the experiment:


(1) Relevant information can flow from any sensor integrated into the processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) system to decision makers through a single PED/command and control (C2) node regardless of the nation owning the sensors or the PED systems;


(2) A single PED/C2 node can control sensors within the system regardless of the nation owning the sensors or the PED systems;


(3) Information can be filtered and fused such that the decision makers only receive relevant information vs. raw unfiltered, non-fused data, thus reducing cognitive burden, improving time to decision, and more efficiently using network bandwidth by transferring only relevant “sufficient information” for each information consumer; and


(4) Reporting can be done in NATO standard formats regardless of native format to make information available to coalition partners.


SET-256 proved each hypothesis during the event. During the experiment, the team conducted the successful integration of sensors using three separate middlewares running simultaneously on sensors. Specifically, communication to Canada via Open Standards for Unattended Sensors (OSUS), the UK via their SAPIENT protocol, and NATO via the draft STANAG 4789. SET-256 also successfully tested the draft STANAG 4789 and were able to publish MASINT Reps (STANAG 4716).


 

Figure 1: Event Architecture

Conclusion

This event provided the framework for SET-256 to develop a set of business rules that will allow sensor data sharing. SET-256 drafted a documented mechanism to integrate disparate systems at the edge, with curated data flowing into the NATO architecture. The ultimate result is improved decision-making, resulting in increased operational effectiveness and survivability.

Page_Intro: NATO forces currently cannot effectively take advantage of available disparate mobile and fixed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets (e.g., sensors, cameras, unattended ground sensors, etc.) from coalition partners during coalition ground operations. Coalition partners must provide all of the ISR assets they need respectively, which creates significantly increased costs in logistics, sustainment, and required personnel. The objective of SET-256 was to support the tactical commander’s decision-making process by increasing information availability from multi-national ISR capabilities and systems. Currently, coalition forces do not share sensor data effectively, resulting in incomplete situational awareness, which unnecessarily exposes NATO personnel to threats.

HomePageImage: NATO-JISR.jpeg
HomePageBodyText: SET-256, Interoperability & Networking of Disparate Sensors and Platforms for Tactical ISR Applications conducts successful live experimen

S. Toth (DEVCOM ARL-USA), S. Bolling (NMO-USA), N. Hueber (ISL-FRA), W. Hughes (DEVCOM ARL-USA), P. Maupin (DRDC-CA), M. Mellini (DEVCOM AC-USA), M. Murray (NMO-USA), E. Seminerio (DEVCOM AC-USA), A. Shakir (DSTL-GBR), P. Thomas (DSTL-GBR), M. Ulmke (Fraunhofer FKIE-GER), M. Velera (Fraunhofer FKIE- GER

Motivation

 NATO forces currently cannot effectively take advantage of available disparate mobile and fixed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets (e.g., sensors, cameras, unattended ground sensors, etc.) from coalition partners during coalition ground operations. Coalition partners must provide all of the ISR assets they need respectively, which creates significantly increased costs in logistics, sustainment, and required personnel. The objective of SET-256 was to support the tactical commander’s decision-making process by increasing information availability from multi-national ISR capabilities and systems. Currently, coalition forces do not share sensor data effectively, resulting in incomplete situational awareness, which unnecessarily exposes NATO personnel to threats.

Results

Four countries participated in the trial in September 2021 at Portsmouth, UK. France, USA, and UK participated in person. Canada participated virtually. Germany had to withdraw due to COVID concerns. Each nation brought sensors to the experiment, with the UK providing the network architecture, facilities, personnel, and trials management.


SET-256 identified four hypothesis for the experiment:


(1) Relevant information can flow from any sensor integrated into the processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) system to decision makers through a single PED/command and control (C2) node regardless of the nation owning the sensors or the PED systems;


(2) A single PED/C2 node can control sensors within the system regardless of the nation owning the sensors or the PED systems;


(3) Information can be filtered and fused such that the decision makers only receive relevant information vs. raw unfiltered, non-fused data, thus reducing cognitive burden, improving time to decision, and more efficiently using network bandwidth by transferring only relevant “sufficient information” for each information consumer; and


(4) Reporting can be done in NATO standard formats regardless of native format to make information available to coalition partners.


SET-256 proved each hypothesis during the event. During the experiment, the team conducted the successful integration of sensors using three separate middlewares running simultaneously on sensors. Specifically, communication to Canada via Open Standards for Unattended Sensors (OSUS), the UK via their SAPIENT protocol, and NATO via the draft STANAG 4789. SET-256 also successfully tested the draft STANAG 4789 and were able to publish MASINT Reps (STANAG 4716).



 



 

Figure 1: Event Architecture

Conclusion

This event provided the framework for SET-256 to develop a set of business rules that will allow sensor data sharing. SET-256 drafted a documented mechanism to integrate disparate systems at the edge, with curated data flowing into the NATO architecture. The ultimate result is improved decision-making, resulting in increased operational effectiveness and survivability.


Created at 01/03/2022 12:14 by ad.rodes
Last modified at 01/03/2022 12:17 by ad.rodes
 
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