Performance-Based Sensor Resource Management for Missile Defense

Toyon Research Corporation proposes to develop a sensor resource manager that selects sensor schedules based on the expected mission performance of the missile defense system. We will develop a resource manager which builds schedules for ground-based radars (e.g., TPY-2 and UEWR) and lower-altitude space-based infrared systems (e.g., PTSS). Mission performance will be quantified in terms of the expected damage caused by threats that could penetrate our defenses with a good schedule and an effective missile defense system, this damage might be driven to zero. A schedule will define a series of sensor tasks for multiple sensors over a specified time horizon. Each sensor task will describe where the sensor is pointing, what modes are to be employed, and the dwell time. The resource manager, which we will call Sensor Management for Automated Resource Triage (SMART), will work with a fusion system housed in a Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC) system. The fusion system will provide track information to the SMART module and the SMART module will use this information to select future sensor tasks which minimize the expected damage caused by leaking threats. The SMART module will create the sensor schedule dynamically during an attack, based on the latest information supplied by the fusion system. We will develop and test the SMART module using a Toyon-developed testbed as well as testbeds specified by the government.