Acoustic Data Software "Intelligent Agent" Search Tool Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-063 Topic Title: Acoustic Data Software "Intelligent Agent" Search Tool Proposal No.: N051-063-0240 Firm: Planning Systems Inc. 12030 Sunrise Valley Drive Suite 400, Reston Plaza I Reston, Virginia 20191-3453 Contact: Eric Todd Phone: (703) 788-7774 Web Site: www.plansys.com Abstract: Frequent ARCI system upgrades, the addition of new sensors, new classes of targets, and operations in congested areas combine to make the sonar operator's job busier. While sonar data is stored on board during tactical operations, operators do not have time to review it for missed contacts. A tool capable of reviewing stored sonar data for potential missed contacts or indicators of contacts could mine significant additional value from sonar data in the tactical environment. We propose to utilize the technique of Case Based Reasoning (CBR) to assist passive sonar operators. CBR fits this problem particularly well because, while passive sonar analysis is very experience dependent, subjective, and difficult to reduce to firm rules, there are many interpreted data cases available. This is the type of application for which CBR was developed. Case Based Reasoning operates by extracting from the case library cases most similar to the current data, evaluating those cases to determine how they fit the current data, and adapting the current data case into the case library. CBR is currently being used in a broad range of analysis-heavy applications such as medical diagnosis and mechanical diagnosis, so we consider this to be a very feasible approach. Benefits: When Phase 1 is complete we will have demonstrated how to apply Case Based Reasoning to the problem of historical sonar data search and analysis. Instead of using specific knowledge extracted from a dataset which an expert believes fully describes the data, this approach utilizes the dataset itself. This approach avoids the issue of experts many times not being able to verbalize how they came to a specific conclusion because it is a result of many years' experience. We anticipate the end result of this effort to be a Phase 3 task to implement this approach and integrate it into the ARCI sonar system via the APB process. Additional markets for this technology would be UK/NATO countries. Many of these countries operate navies and would be interested in this technology. PSI has gained insight into selling in this market through another successful SBIR program entitled "SAKIT". SAKIT is an asynchronous transfer mode-SONET network node for use in rugged environments requiring miniature, low-power and high speed distributed network application applications. Following the example set by SAKIT, PSI will approach the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom (UK) and other NATO member countries with navies. PSI is already engaged with government agencies and commercial firms in many of these countries. Opportunities outside of the defense industry are more challenging to identify but exist nonetheless. Case Based Reasoning is an active field of research and development. While the goal of this technique, i.e. sonar operator workload reduction, may not translate directly to the commercial market, the translation of human expert knowledge to decision making translates well. Return