Automated Techniques to Reduce Operator Workload at the Passive ASW and Human-System Interface

*The proposed research will reduce the historically high operator workload in legacy passive ASW systems that arises from grossly inefficient human-system interfaces (HSIs). These problematic HSIs create high operator workload even when automation is applied to contact detection, classification and localization (DCL). *We propose to resolve a substantive portion of the problem by leveraging off of new, innovative HSI technology that employs very high levels of display integration. This new technology - part of which is patented but freely available to the Navy - reduced operator workload in a passive DCL system by 50% - as judged by Navy SMEs. This advanced HSI technology is enabled by commercial advances in data representation, data management, and workload optimization technologies. *In Phase I of the proposed research, we will develop 5-10 major screen formats for passive ASW, each of which employs numerous innovative workload reduction HSI features and functions developed specifically for passive ASW. We will verify the feasibility of implementing these HSI formats and features within the sensor data architecture of the DD(X) Total Ship Computing Environment. And we will use Fleet ASW experts to verify the utility and usability of the formats and features for reducing operator workload in DD(X).