Advanced Modeling and Control Techniques for Minimizing Latencies and Bandwidth Constraints in an Engagement Network

The effective use of a network centric collaborative force to autonomously deliver precise long range indirect fire weapons system demand low latency and stringent bandwidth requirements for decision making and engagement processes. This is furthercompounded by the extensive information processing capability that is required in the sensor-decider-shooter operation. Specifically, substantial capabilities are required to analyze and evaluate sensor data and initiate a course of action in view ofpresence of multiple sensors, weapons, and tactical situations being involved.In view of the above, interest in modeling and control of large scale engagement networks is growing over the past several years. As design requirements and performance demands for minimization of network latencies and bandwidth constraints increase, theburden and responsibility for developing more suitable and advanced control strategies also increase. The conventional strategies that ignore the effects of dynamic coupling and interaction among the multi-decision makers, nonlinearities, parameter, noiseand environmental variations as well as changes in the performance specifications, objectives and goals may generally fail to meet the very strict and stringent design specifications and requirements that are imposed on the network in terms of the datalatencies and bandwidth constraints. The objectives of this proposal are to address the above issues by developing and characterizing a rigorous, formal, and a comprehensive mathematical model of the missile engagement network with application to a typicalair defense system. Specifically, in this Phase I research, we intend to develop, analyze, implement, and evaluate algorithms for coordination and control of a large scale complex engagement network consisting of stationary as well as cooperative andautonomous decision makers. The proposed system is designed to support the utilization of optimal allocation and distribution of information in order to minimize the existing latencies and bandwidth constraints in the network. Bandwidth and latencyproblems have always been a concern for military command and control (C2) systems as the need to move very large volumes of data within the combat engagement network will present problems requiring real-time and expeditious remedies. These problems areparticularly compounded when one has to provide a large volume of data to locations which are either mobile or have the potential for movement, where more advanced technological solution have to be employed.Anticipated outcomes of this research include new mathematical representation and models, as well as software tools for coordination and control of multi-decision making systems operating under uncertain and varying latencies and bandwidth limitationswith potential for a variety of applications including: monitoring and control of distributed power, manufacturing and communication systems, and organizational decision support systems. These organizations have interest in the development of viableapproaches for handling data latencies and bandwidth constraints in addressing the design, control, and performance requirements for these large scale complex systems.