Diagnostic Engine for Cognitive Improvement and Decision Effectiveness (DECIDE)

This proposal is to continue development of the Diagnostic Engine for Cognitive Improvement and Decision Effectiveness (DECIDE). The DECIDE system will advance performance diagnostics to support decision superiority and will bring needed new capabilities that will drastically improve the training debrief process. During Phase I, we proved the viability of the DECIDE concept by: (1) Generating a comprehensive approach to measuring, assessing and training the cognitive constructs underlying situation awareness and decision making; (2) Applying Bayesian techniques to model the crews individual and collective tasks for complex mission scenarios; and (3) Demonstrating the DECIDE diagnostic model and debriefing feedback for a mission scenario. In Phase II, we will validate DECIDE as an embedded performance diagnosis and debriefing capability in the Submarine Multi-Mission Tactical Trainer (SMMTT), a shore based simulation environment for training attack submarine control room watch crews. Following the successful Phase II experiment, we plan to integrate the DECIDE structured and semi-automated debriefing capability in a variety of shore and on-board trainers such as the Surface Anti-submarine warfare Synthetic Trainer (SAST). DECIDE technology will result in repeatable, standardized assessment of fleet readiness in training and forward deployed mission rehearsal exercises while reducing the requirement for expert training observers.