Advanced Utility-Weighted Information-Based Sensor Management Techniques to Support Global Battle Management

The MDA’s objective is to field a “joint, integrated, and multilayered Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) to defend the United States, our deployed forces, and our allies and friends against ballistic missiles of all ranges by engaging them in all phases of flight.” The sensor network plays a key role in BMDS battle management by providing an accurate and timely, single integrated air picture (SIAP) of the threats. There are two problems in particular, that present a challenge to generating a clear SIAP that can best support the engagement planning process. The first of these problems is sensor registration, which is essential for removing sensor biases and errors from track data, and analyzing multi-sensor data within a common frame of reference. The second problem is sensor management, which optimizes the tasking of sensors to support various engagement events and improve the overall outcome of the battle and mission objectives. This proposal addresses sensor registration but focuses on the development of utility-weighted, information-based sensor management techniques that are integrated with global battle management functions to support the improvement of system and mission level objectives.