Terrain Analysis for Human-Robot Interaction (TAH-RI)

Understanding the right thing to do in the battlespace is contingent on knowledge of the terrain and its tactical importance for military operations (e.g., terrain restricts or enhances abilities to observe, move, and shoot). The product of this Phase II effort will be TAH-RI, a COTS software component for systems developers, enabling them to easily make systems capable of identifying terrain features that are tactically relevant, and translating that information into ‘languages’ understandable by both humans and computers. TAH-RI will be demonstrated in an ITS for terrain analysis and in a robotics application. Means of enabling Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) to provide training and guided practice for soldiers could significantly expand range of when and where training occurs, reducing demand for expert human instructors. Means of enabling envisioned robotic systems to understand terrain and its tactical import is essential to true autonomy. The proposed work brings together the necessary state-of-the-art technologies to enable systems (e.g., synthetic instructors, and autonomous robotic vehicles) to aid soldiers and their commanders in improving readiness. CHI Systems, Inc. and the University of South Florida are uniquely positioned to succeed in creating and demonstrating the revolutionary confluence of technologies required to achieve this objective.