Advanced Development for Defense Science and Technology

The research objectives of Aiding Complex Decision-Making Through Augmented Reality (SBIR Phase 1) address real world issues found in complex, high-stress, mobile environments that require rich information in order to reduce error and make informed decisions. Such systems are made up of several interacting components requiring collaborative situational awareness in a dynamic environment. Complexity arises when boundaries shift forcing operational tasks and goals to reorient, replanning. Critical real-time decision-making is required and failure often arises due to lack of information, resulting in inadequate decisions or increased reaction times. We plan to leverage current technology and research providing a new insight into decision-making in complex, high-stress environments, bringing a new approach to cognitive aids. We propose the concept of iARM (Intelligent Augmented Reality Model)- a combined reality of system and human perception that uses real world artifacts and cues as stimulation in order to provide an information overlay that provides a richer digitally enabled experience. Through the creation of a MOBILE iARM, we intend to improve dynamic situational awareness amongst collaborative groups through a shared knowledge base that can be accessed in real-time. Additional applications could include interactive modeling, information visualization (such as color identifying motion), and other visualization augmentations.