OPTICAL: OPtimized Tasking for Integrated Coverage using Airborne and Low-orbit sensors

In this proposal, SSCI presents OPTICAL: OPtimized Tasking for Integrated Coverage using Airborne and Low-orbit sensors, a system for coordination between airborne and spaceborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms. OPTICAL will use combinatorial optimization algorithms to produce a collection schedule utilizing available platforms while minimizing the opportunity cost of use and the timeline for dissemination to the end user. The key algorithms within the OPTICAL system are as follows: 1) platforms are identified from multiple disparate databases (both government and commercial) and aggregated into a local database for processing. 2) When a Mission Service Request (MSR) is received, the local database is filtered to identify platforms capable of servicing the mission. 3) Orbital propagation and flyout information is calculated to determine timeframes that the platform will be available to collect and determine the collection geometry. 4) Potential schedules are generated via optimization and presented to the user for selection. The development of OPTICAL will utilize recent on-orbit tasking and collaboration experience conducted by SSCI as part of the Army ARTIST, SDA POET, and DARPA CUSTODE programs. Initial feasibility analysis will be conducted using our existing simulation environments, and our integration and launch experience will be utilized in future phases as a prototype is developed and demonstrated.