Modeling Operator Reasoning and Performance for Human-in-Control Simulation (MORPHIC)

As the United States makes strides in developing, testing, and deploying missile defense technology, the human element remains core to the integrated, layered ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) architecture. Human operators oversee the command and control at the system, component, and element level across a vast array of networked ground-, sea-, and space-based sensors and interceptors to effectively detect, track, discriminate and engage threats. This requires careful coordination across a complex system-of-systems. It is vital to understand the impact of human operator differences across system configurations, engagement conditions, and target phenomena for a variety of BMDS applications. Currently, however, there is no common, modular capability to model variability in human-in-control (HIC) interactions with other simulated elements. A HIC modeling capability is needed that can (1) represent the breadth of operator decision-making processes across BMDS elements, (2) scale to deliver the appropriate level of fidelity, and (3) be extensible to future operator needs. To provide this HIC modeling capability, we propose to design and demonstrate the feasibility of Modeling Operator Reasoning and Performance for Human-in-Control Simulation (MORPHIC). MORPHIC provides a graphical development and run-time environment for non-technical experts to construct and execute HIC models for a variety of BMDS applications.