Common Picture Applied Research

The goal of this activity is to develop enablers for decision making and mission execution in order to achieve battlespace superiority. It focuses on the development of algorithms and software technologies that identify and integrate informational content from multiple sources, leading to decision aids that support user-cognitive processes. Because persistent sensors are generating massive amounts of data, the focus is on technologies that not only integrate information from diverse sources, but also provide indications of information significance in ways that support the user's decision needs, regardless of location and operational situation. To achieve this, it must be possible to automate understanding of the battlespace by identifying objects, determining relationships among the objects, recognizing activities, assessing intent, and automatically generating courses of action with associated risks and uncertainty. Effort will also be devoted to developing technology for increasing assurance and security for Communication, Command and Control (C3) information systems and technology for improving information discovery and information presentation in such systems. The Nano Electronics Technology activity is focused on developing ultra-low power, higher performance computing devices and components that are based on novel functionalities of nanometer scale materials and are enabled by improved understanding of nanomaterials, new devices and circuit design concepts, as well as new architectures uniquely suited for nanoscale systems. Applied research in artificial intelligence focuses on the unique challenges of the Naval domain by providing intelligent decision aids while operating in the complex spatio-temporal environments of distributed Naval forces.

The Tactical Space Exploitation initiative explores the application of new space craft technologies on small, light-weight and low-cost satellites, to enhance naval warfighting capabilities by taking advantage of the global access, revisit and connectivity provided by orbital platforms. To perform early-applied discovery Research and Development (R&D) to ensure Navy-Marine Corps access to critical space-associated capabilities on the ground, at sea, and in a contested space environment; research thrusts include spacecraft R&D in five strategic cross-cutting areas that lead to the fielding of systems which perform functions critically important to operations. These areas are: (1) Advanced Space Platform Technologies, such as development of new and prototype space systems that are tailored to specific threats, including technologies which reduce cost, mass, power and/ or extend on-orbit lifetimes, and sub-systems that advance propulsion and control capabilities towards precision maneuvering while minimizing fuel; (2) Next-generation Payloads and Sensors, including space robotic capabilities to address on-orbit inspection, servicing, repair, assembly, and mission life extension; (3) Connectivity for disadvantaged users that is rugged, high-bandwidth and space based; (4) Space Weather, and (5) Space Situational Awareness.

The overarching objective of this activity is to develop high throughput dynamic wireless communications and network technologies critical to the mission performance and robustness of naval communications for widely dispersed, mobile air, land, surface and submerged platforms. These platforms are often Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) limited, and will operate under constraints of cluttered Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum, harsh Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) and Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) conditions. The technical payoff is increased network data rates, interoperability across heterogeneous radios, dynamic bandwidth management, and greater mobile network connectivity. The operational payoff is that warfighters from the operational command to the tactical edge have near real-time access to information, knowledge and decision-making necessary to perform their tasks, including coalition and allied forces. Emphasis is on tactical edge communications and networks to fully realize net-centric warfare, bridging the Global Information Grid (GIG) and the 'disadvantaged user', e.g., small-deck combatants, submarines, unmanned vehicles, distributed sensors and ground units in urban and RF challenged environments. The current specific objectives are: Radios and Apertures: - Develop technologies for high band radio, electrically-small and actively scanned antennas, addressing critical issue of radio spectrum bandwidth efficiency, spectrum contention and clutter, agile frequency communications with dynamic spectrum access, all-digital front-end with wide dynamic range, power amplifier efficiency, multipath effects, saltwater propagation and Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) communications. - Develop algorithms and signal processing for space-time-frequency diversity communications, including measures for electronic protection, such as low-intercept, antijam waveforms and modulation. - Develop affordable antenna technologies for small size and weight, high radiation efficiency, and wideband operation with rapid beam-steering. - Develop alternatives to Radio Frequency (RF) communications in airborne and terrestrial environments as well as high data rate underwater communications for undersea warfare (distributed sensor netting, unmanned underwater vehicle data exfiltration, submarine Communications at Speed and Depth) using Electro-Optic/Infra-Red (EO/IR) technologies. - Develop secure, high bandwidth communications systems and the exploitation of existing and emerging network protocols that will avail development of new, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based data transport mechanisms. Tactical Networking and Network Control/Management: - Develop advanced networking techniques for robust, highly dynamic environments; interoperable networks for secure communications and protocols, bandwidth and network management techniques that manage and allocate bandwidth across tactical and theater levels in support of net-centric operations. - Develop rapidly auto-configuring and self-organizing networks with efficient and survivable routing, secure authentication, mobility management and Quality-of-Service guarantee, while optimizing network resources. - Address low bandwidth, synchronization and reliability for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)/Middleware Architecture in both Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) and infrastructure-based Internet Protocol (IP) backbone networks. - Develop cognitive network planning and operations engines whose criteria are based directly on mission objectives, while self-adapting and managing the spectrum allocation and radio resources in such a way that network operations, SOA community of interest, and computer network defense are integrated to form a single common tactical network picture that requires a minimum of human intervention and skill.