N142-090 TITLE: Crew Role-player Enabled by Automated Technology Enhancements (CREATE)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 205

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN NATIONALS: This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign nationals may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign national who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal may be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a software application/suite that provides a synthetic crew role player to support complex crewmember interactions during dynamic training events.

DESCRIPTION: Current Navy crew training requires the assembly of an entire crew or the use of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to support crew training. While training benefits from the additional costs associated with bringing a full crew together (e.g., crew coordination, team building), some individual training could benefit from the added realism provided by crew interaction. For example, when attaining skills associated with crew roles, team members often conduct a series of training events in Part Task Trainers (PTTs). During these events, the emphasis is on the crew member�s individual skills; however, many tasks associated with their role may rely on inputs from other crewmembers. Developing a software application/suite that provides a synthetic role-playing capability will serve to enhance the training pipeline and potentially avoid costs and provide value added without the use of training aids.

In order to successfully implement a synthetic role-player capability for Navy crew-based training, a technology solution that integrates speech capabilities (i.e., recognition, understanding, synthesis), SME level tactical domain information, reaction to multitasking and high stress situations, and relay of information via means other than speech communication (e.g., software inputs), are required. However, current technologies have not been developed to interact in this manner.

The initial use case for the proposed technology would be to supplement training for the Tactical Officers (TACCOs) in the P-8A PTT. TACCOs are responsible for synthesizing information from multiple sensor operators in order to make tactical decisions about how to pursue targets of interest. Inputs from sensor operators can include identification of other forces in the area (e.g., blue, red, green, surface, land, air, subsurface), identification of targets, and management/employment of sensors.

In order to successfully implement a synthetic role-player capability for Navy crew-based training, a technology solution that integrates speech capabilities, SME-level tactical domain information, reaction to multitasking and high-stress situations, and relay of information via means other than speech communication.

PHASE I: Design and prove feasibility of an architecture for a synthetic role-player, incorporating appropriate component technologies and input/output requirements for overall training system. Designed solution must support the High-Level Architecture (HLA) communication protocol. Appropriate Information Assurance (IA) guidelines should be considered in initial design.

PHASE II: Develop prototype synthetic role-player, providing proof-of-concept integration of all component technologies, and demonstrate appropriate outputs necessary to stimulate simulation systems. Appropriate IA guidelines should be assessed and considered when implementing the prototype system to minimize or avoid rework in future phases of the project.

PHASE III: Transition effort to commercial developers and government research and development facilities or acquisition platforms responsible for providing training systems. Specifically for Navy use, package a software application/suite that provides a synthetic crew role player capability for use in aviation simulation training.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Advances in synthetic role players are applicable to the gaming community, as well as other venues such as smart phone applications and digital tutoring technologies.

REFERENCES:
1. Abbott, R. G., Basilico, J. D., Glickman, M. R., & Whetzel, J., 2010, Trainable automated forces, Proceedings of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), 2132-2142.

2. Gelenbe, E., Hussain, K., & Kaptan, V., 2005, Simulating autonomous agents in augmented reality, The Journal of Stems and Software, 74, 255-268.

3. Kuhl, F., Weatherly, R., and Dahmann, J., 1999, Creating Computer Simulation Systems: An Introduction to the High Level Architecture, http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Computer-Simulation-Systems-Introduction/dp/0130225118.

4. Stytz, M. R., and Banks, S. B., 2003, Progress and prospects for the development of computer generated actors for military simulation, part 3-The road ahead. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 12(6), 629-643.

5. DoD Instruction 5220.22-M, 2006, "National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual," Retrieved from http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/522022m.pdf.

6. DoD Instruction 8510.01, 2007, "DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP), "Retrieved from http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/851001p.pdf.

7. DoD Instruction 8500.2, 2003, "Information Assurance (IA) Implementation," Retrieved from http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/850002p.pdf.

8. High-Level Architecture (HLA) communication protocol, Retrieved from http://standards.ieee.org/findstds/standard/1516-2010.html1516-2010 - IEEE Standard for Modeling and Simulation (M&S) High Level Architecture (HLA) -- Framework and Rules (2010). Retrieved from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5553440&url=http%3A%2F2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fstamp%2Fstamp.jsp%3Ftp%3D%26arnumber%3D5553440.

KEYWORDS: Synthetic Role Playing; Simulation; Training; Integrated Speech Technologies; Part Task Trainer (PTT); Crew Training Environment

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