Cooperative Behavior Schemes for Improving The Effectiveness of Autonomous Wide Area Search Munitions

Abstract

The problem being addressed is how to best find and engage an unknown number of targets in unknown locations (some moving) using multiple autonomous wide area search munitions. In this research cooperative behavior is being investigated to improve the overall mission effectiveness. A computer simulation was used to emulate the behavior of autonomous wide area search munitions and measure their overall expected performance. This code was modified to incorporate the capability for cooperative engagement based on a parameterized decision rule. Using Design of Experiments (DOE) and Response Surface Methodologies (RSM), the simulation was run to achieve optimal decision rule parameters for given scenarios and to determine the sensitivities of those parameters to the precision of the Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm, lethality and guidance precision of the warhead, and the characteristics of the battlefield.

Cooperative Control Simulation Validation Using Applied Probability Theory

“…In the area of cooperative attack, Gillen [3] investigated how cooperative behavior based on governing rules would benefit a group of munitions searching an area.…”

“…The following cooperative team process [11] is intended to contrast the differences to the non-cooperative case. [3], [9], [14], [16], [13] has explored the affects these three items can have on cooperative control. Item 3 is of special interest for successfully employing cooperative teams to perform tasks.…”

“…Even without the presence of deliberate decoys, ATR algorithms will generally exhibit a nonzero false target declaration rate. Recent research [3], [13], [15] has verified that the false target attack rate has the greatest effect in the mission effectiveness for both cooperative and non-cooperative wide-area search munitions. Cooperative classification by multiple vehicles can reduce but not eliminate false target misidentification; however, this also will reduce the total number of targets encountered by the searching WASMs due to multiple vehicles having to return to a single target to verify its identity.…”

Cooperative guidance laws for maneuvering target interceptions

“…In order to lower the cost induced by the development of such abilities on a single vehicle, research has been focused on how this complex mission could be effectively fulfilled using a large number of cheaper less-sophisticated vehicles. However, to provide the same result as the one sought for initially, all the vehicles must cooperate so that the flock obtains performances at least equal but possibly greater than those of a complex system (Gillen and Jacques (2002)). Cooperation requires to split the initial task in several subtasks and affect each subtask to a specific vehicle while coordination of the entire vehicle set must guarantee the satisfaction of the initial mission needs.…”

Probability Modeling of Autonomous Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs)

“…Jacques (2002) presents a simple probability model for examining some operational aspects of employing a pack of AWASM. Other studies (e.g., Chandler et al, (2002), Gillen and Jacques (2002) and Richards et al (2002)) utilize simulations for evaluating possible information sharing schemes, and develop optimization (mixed-integer programming) models that produce task assignment rules for target observation and classification and trajectory designs. Jeffcoat (2004) applies Markov-chain analysis to study the effect of cueing in the case of two cooperative searchers.…”