Advanced Replanning and Execution Tools for Heterogeneous Unmanned Systems (ARETHUS) Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-082 Topic Title: Advanced Replanning and Execution Tools for Heterogeneous Unmanned Systems (ARETHUS) Proposal No.: N091-082-0313 Firm: Charles River Analytics Inc. 625 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138-4555 Contact: Ryan Kilgore Phone: (617) 491-3474 Web Site: www.cra.com Abstract: Advanced automation capabilities and human-computer interfaces are needed to enhance operator situation awareness and reduce the cognitive work of supervising unmanned vehicle teams in complex airspaces and waterspaces. To address this need, we will design and demonstrate Advanced Replanning and Execution Tools for Heterogeneous Unmanned Systems (ARETHUS). Three core attributes characterize our approach: First, we will expand prior analyses of unmanned operations to address the operator's need for observability and directability of automated planning tool behaviors when supervising multiple vehicles. Second, we leverage this analysis to drive the design of: (1) advanced planning algorithms that incorporate both hard domain constraints and soft operator preferences during mission planning and replanning; and (2) ecological mission displays that enhance operator awareness of the relative safety and efficacy of automated plans with respect to individual vehicle and environmental constraints, while intuitively conveying affordances for directing the planning process. Third, we will extend existing in-house planning algorithms, display tools, and simulation environments to rapidly develop working prototypes of ARETHUS component algorithms and mission displays. We will use these prototypes to demonstrate and evaluate our approaches and truly explore the complexities of mission execution and rapid replanning of unmanned vehicles in complex airspaces and waterspaces. Benefits: We expect fully developed ARETHUS planning algorithms and mission display technologies to have immediate and tangible benefits across both government and commercial applications. Government applications include the development of tools that reduce the workload, manning footprint, and/or training requirements for the supervisory control of large or heterogeneous unmanned vehicle teams, such as those envisioned for the Littoral Combat Ship system. Commercial applications include improved spatial, temporal, and relational visualization capabilities for a broad variety of situation awareness displays developed through Charles River Analytics' MetronomeT application framework. Return