TAWS Ensembles for Use in IWEDA
Abstract
Providing tactical commanders/users with quantitative detection range information for specific target/sensor pairings and environmental conditions is a desirable capability. However, providing this information for all scenarios (i.e., targets, sensors, locations, etc) in near real time is not realistic given the current processing power of tactical computers and the availability of high resolution environmental data (in both space and time). As a result, for planning purposes and initial screening of potential target acquisition devices (e.g.. IR devices vs. image intensifiers) a simple rule based application can provide valuable guidance. Such an application exists and is fielded via the Army Battle Command System (ABCS) the integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid (IWEDA[1]). IWEDA, however, currently has highly simplistic rules that determine whether the particular device will be adversely impacted by the environment. Typically these rules are based on only the meteorological visibility and possibly one other weather parameter (e.g., fog or precipitation). Moreover, there is no target information associated with IWEDA. in an attempt to provide more realistic weather impact information on target acquisition devices from IWEDA without increasing the access time for the user, an approach is being undertaken that will utilize the quantitative information available from the Target Acquisition Weapons Software (TAWS[2]). TAWS provides detection ranges for a specific sensor given target details and environmental information. By running TAWS for a large number of environmental conditions and targets, parametric ensemble curves can be pre-computed for use in IWEDA. in concert with the simplicity of IWEDA's rules, these curves will provide the user with average detection ranges and additional guidance when in the rule-predicted "marginal" (i.e., amber) or "unfavorable" (i.e., red) IWEDA regions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADP023101
Entities
People
- Barbara Sauter
- David Sauter
- Richard Shirkey
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory