ECCHAT - Enhancing Command and Control with Human AI Teaming
Abstract
[Publicly Releasable]-The Navy is actively engaged in the modernization of its warfighting capabilities both in terms-implementing u,pdates of existing ships and weapons systems, as well as pursuing breakthrough-technologies to enhance its warfighting capabilities., Artificial Intelligence in all its guises (AI,-Machine Learning (ML), Reinforcement Learning (RL), Deep Neural Networks, etc.) is o,f-particular interest due to its ability to be a significant force multiplier, and for its ability to-overcome persistent limitation,s on human cognition (memory limits, cognitive biases, attentional-deficits, gaps in training, fatigue, etc.). As part of this effor,t the Navy, through its research and-development efforts under the Office of Naval Research (ONR), has been aggressively funding-fou,ndational and translational research on AI and Autonomous Agents (AA) across a wide variety-of naval platforms and echelons.-One asp,ect of Naval operations that is particularly appropriate for the application of AI & AA is-that of command decision making at all ec,helons: Functional Groups, Warfare Level, Composite-Warfare Level, etc. Command decision making could significantly benefit from the, capabilities-of AI & AA, however their direct application is difficult because significant phases within the-decision and planning, processes take place away from computers and require significant real-time-coordination and collaboration amongst the personnel per,forming the C2 processes (planning,-directing, monitoring, and assessing) in Maritime Operating Centers (MOCs), or similar shipboard,-efforts in maintaining the common operating picture.-This proposal seeks to create a basic research laboratory specifically designe,d to study the-introduction of AI & AA into the C2 process through the application of ubiquitous computing,-human-robot interaction,, and cognitive engineering methods and analyses. The goal of the-laboratory would be to provide a single, fully instrumented space w,here ideas of how to improve-command decision making and C2 processes through the introduction of AI & AA can be initially-evaluated, for efficacy and refined for transition to 6.3 research and development. Further, it can-be a proving ground where hypothetical AI, & AA capabilities can be assessed and requirements-for future AI & AA can be established.-The laboratory would have at its heart th,e ability to conduct human-in-the-loop experiments with-up to 6 individuals. It would enable the simulation of C2 processes found in, MOCs and shipboard.-The laboratory would support the individuals to access multiple, differential sources of information-needed to, create a common operating picture and to perform planning activities. The laboratory-would be fully instrumented allowing researche,rs to capture significant data about the decision-makers and their interaction with each other, computer systems, and the physical w,orld, as well as-the more traditional overall performance data and workload.-The instrumentation grant monies would be used to suppo,rt three categories of the laboratory build-out: 1) hardware and physical objects, 2) instrumentation to monitory the human decision, makers-in real time, and 3) software necessary to perform naval-relevant simulations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 16, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212372
Entities
People
- Karen Feigh
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy