Intelligent Tactical Assistant for Active SONAR (ITAAS)

Modern active sonar systems leverage numerous software tools to detect, classify, and track submarine threats. These tools include advanced signal processing algorithms, automated data association and tracking algorithms, contact classification algorithms, and tactical decision aids (TDAs) which attempt to recommend best practices to the user based upon the overall tactical picture. Ultimately, the final authority on target classification and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) strategy is the sonar operator. However, the large amount of data used for classification and tracking, combined with the contextual data generated by the TDAs, contributes to a significant cognitive demand on operators, who must leverage all available information to keep track of threats, and devise strategies to ensure mission success. To mitigate the cognitive demand and improve the quality of information available to active sonar operators, Daniel H. Wagner Associates, Inc. (DHWA) proposes an Intelligent Tactical Assistant for Active SONAR (ITAAS) that will improve the operator’s situational awareness by providing an enhanced tactical picture generated by analytically combining detailed information concerning: (1) acoustic environmental conditions (and their uncertainty), (2) potential target evasion tactics, and (3) expected costs and benefits of multiple target-specific ASW search techniques/doctrine.