Augmented Reality Collaborative and Analytical Tools for ISR Operations

Abstract

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations have experienced explosive growth in recent years, leading to an exponential increase in collected data. Yet despite this wealth of ISR data, individuals, teams and decision-makers are often not able to develop the individual and collective situational awareness (SA) of the operational environment they need. Augmented Reality (AR) technologies offer one potential solution to this dilemma. Using visual, auditory and haptic clues AR technologies have the potential to deliver new opportunities for collaboration and analysis, which will enhance individual and collective SA. This paper aims to charting a path for the development of AR tools for collaboration and analysis in ISR operations. It explores the current state of AR technology to clarify the key definitions, the taxonomy of systems, and the current research into effective uses. It also examines the cognitive and learning theories that underpin situational awareness to understand what role, if any, AR can play in developing SA. These theories were found to support the increased use of AR technologies to improve SA and collaboration, and eight design criteria that AR technologies must address to promote SA were identified. If these design criteria are respected, AR technologies can be anticipated to improve learning performance, increase user motivation, and enhance user engagement/interaction and collaboration. Additionally, gains in spatial understanding and long-term memory retention are foreseen. Despite this potential, three primary risks were identified that must be appropriately managed in AR system design: channelized attention; distraction in system management; and user customization. If these risks are managed and the design criteria respected, then developers of collaborative and analytical tools for ISR operations will be able to unlock the bright future offered by AR.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 14, 2019
Accession Number
AD1108157

Entities

People

  • Brendan Cook

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Augmented Reality
  • Cognition
  • Control Systems
  • Design Criteria
  • Digital Information
  • Distance Learning
  • Haptics
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Human-Machine Interaction
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Operations
  • Psychology
  • Situational Awareness
  • Virtual Reality
  • War Colleges

Readers

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