INTELLIGENT HOWITZER SELF-DEFENSE DECISION AID

THE INCREASING TEMPO AND LETHALITY OF THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD DICTATE THAT THE ARMY'S DISPERSED, SEMI-AUTONOMOUS UNITS AND SYSTEMS POSSESS THE CAPABILITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES INTELLIGENTLY ON THE BATTLEFIELD BY HAVING EFFECTIVE C2 SYSTEMS WHICH ASSISTS IN INTEGRATING THE DEFENSES FOR WEAPONS PLATFORMS. THE US ARMY FIELD ARTILLERY ENVISIONS THE DISPERSED, SEMI-AUTONOMOUS OPERATION OF WEAPONS SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE TO SURVIVE IN THE BATTLEFIELD, OFTEN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF SUPPORT FROM OTHER APPROPRIATE ELEMENTS SUCH AS AIR DEFENSE UNITS AND ANTI-TANK ELEMENTS OF MANEUVER UNITS. THESE FIELD ARTILLERY SYSTEMS REQUIRE INTELLIGENT DECISION AIDS WHICH ASSIST THEM DURING THE DEFENSE OF THEIR OWN POSITIONS. SUCH DECISION AIDS PROVIDE THE ONLINE FACILITIES AND TUTORIALS NEEDED FOR EMBEDDED TRAINING CAPABILITIES. A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM, WITH MODULAR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE HARDWARE INDEPENDENT, WHICH OPERATES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER EXPERT SYSTEMS (SUCH AS SENSORS) CAN PROVIDE THE CONTROL AND COORDINATION ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR BATTLEFIELD SURVIVAL. THIS PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH THE FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH A SYSTEM.