Addressing NLOS and BLOS Engagements in OneTESS

1
Addressing NLOS and BLOS Engagements in OneTESS

• Bradley C. Schricker
• ATT Government Solutions, Inc.
• 2005 Spring SIW
• April 5, 2005

2
Presentation Outline

• Introduction to TES
• Explanation of NLOS and BLOS problem
• OneTESS
• NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS
• OneTESS Prototype

3
Presentation Outline, cont

• Geo-Pairing
• Network Issues
• Summary and Concluding Remarks
• Questions
• Author Information
• Contributors

4
Introduction

• TES Tactical Engagement Simulation
• OneTESS One TES System
• Began in the 1970s with original Multiple
  Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES)
• Many other TES related systems have been used by
  the Army, including

5
Introduction, cont

• MILES
• Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT)
• Combat Trauma Patient Simulator (CTPS)
• Battlefield Communication Network/Tactical
  Engagement System (BCN/TES)
• Advanced Tactical Engagement Simulation (A-TES)
  Science and Technology Objective (STO)

6
NLOS and BLOS Problem

• Non-Line-of-Sight
• Occurs when an obstacle stands between the
  shooter and target during an engagement
• Lasers can not penetrate obstacle
• In some cases, obstacle would have no effect on
  obstacles or weaponry, such as indirect fire
  operations

7
NLOS and BLOS Problem, cont
8
NLOS and BLOS Problem, cont

• Beyond-Line-of-Sight
• Occurs when the target stands beyond the horizon
  from the shooter during an engagement
• Lasers can not wrap around the curve of the earth
• This is typical of indirect fire operations

9
NLOS and BLOS Problem, cont
10
NLOS and BLOS Problem, cont

• The main crux of the problem is that NLOS and
  BLOS engagements expose the limitations of the
  traditional engagement medium for TES lasers
• OneTESS has requirements to address these
  limitations, particularly for indirect fire
  engagements

11
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS

• OneTESS has two statements from the Operational
  Requirements Document that address NLOS and BLOS
  engagements

12
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont
OneTESS will provide realistic simulation of
NLOS and BLOS munitions and their effects on
targets by live, constructive, and virtual units
for all systems in the inventory (to include
threat systems) and will be reprogrammable to
support the addition of future systems. OneTESS
will simulate BLUFOR and OPFOR weapons-locating
radars and other defensive systems.
13
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont
NLOS/BLOS weapon effect simulation capabilities
will include OICW, MK-19, hand grenade, mortar,
artillery, and Claymore for threshold all
NLOS/BLOS weapon systems for objective.
14
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont

• Terms to take from those statements
• NLOS

15
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont

• Terms to take from those statements
• NLOS
• BLOS

16
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont

• Terms to take from those statements
• NLOS
• BLOS
• All systems in the inventory

www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m109-001.jpg
17
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont

• Terms to take from those statements
• NLOS
• BLOS
• All systems in the inventory
• BLUFOR and OPFOR

www.onesaf.org/publicotb1.html
18
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont

• Terms to take from those statements
• NLOS
• BLOS
• All systems in the inventory
• BLUFOR and OPFOR
• Mortar

www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m1064-mortar1.jpg
19
NLOS and BLOS Requirements in OneTESS, cont

• Terms to take from those statements
• NLOS
• BLOS
• All systems in the inventory
• BLUFOR and OPFOR
• Mortar
• Artillery

www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m55-003.jpg
20
OneTESS Prototype

• In simple terms, the next generation of TES
• Many of the same functions as MILES, but with
  expanded capabilities
• Most importantly, an ability to address indirect
  fires that fall into the NLOS and BLOS category

21
OneTESS Prototype, cont
22
OneTESS Prototype, cont

• Lighter weight components

23
OneTESS Prototype, cont

• Lighter weight components
• Longer lasting power supplies

24
OneTESS Prototype, cont

• Lighter weight components
• Longer lasting power supplies
• Vaster array of simulated weapons and systems

25
OneTESS Prototype, cont

• Lighter weight components
• Longer lasting power supplies
• Vaster array of simulated weapons and systems
• More realistic modeling of weapons, vehicles,
  casualties, environment, etc.

www.mak.com
26
Geo-Pairing

• A potential solution for NLOS and BLOS
  engagements
• Technology is used for engagements when, for
  whatever reason, the target is invisible to the
  shooter
• To calculate the outcome of an engagement, a
  geo-pairing algorithm must have several data

27
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter

28
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter
• Location of the target

29
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter
• Location of the target
• Time at which the shooter pulled the trigger

30
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter
• Location of the target
• Time at which the shooter pulled the trigger
• Characteristics of the weapon and ammunition

31
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter
• Location of the target
• Time at which the shooter pulled the trigger
• Characteristics of the weapon and ammunition
• Orientation vector of the weapon

32
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter
• Location of the target
• Time at which the shooter pulled the trigger
• Characteristics of the weapon and ammunition
• Orientation vector of the weapon
• Atmospheric conditions that might affect the
  trajectory of a projectile

33
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Those data include
• Location of the shooter
• Location of the target
• Time at which the shooter pulled the trigger
• Characteristics of the weapon and ammunition
• Orientation vector of the weapon
• Atmospheric conditions that might affect the
  trajectory of a projectile
• Knowledge of terrain obscurants

34
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Though the arithmetic calculation is
  straightforward, a number of issues can
  complicate the process
• Timing delays associated with GPS
• Messaging between systems
• Application of engagement geometry based on the
  type of engagement
• Adjudication approach
• Real-time casualty assessment
• Notification of the outcome to target and logging
  systems

35
Geo-Pairing, cont

• Among the most complex issues is the
  communication network for such an exercise
• Geo-pairing requires large amounts of data
  transfer over a large battlespace (NOTE the
  range is munition-dependent)
• This will necessitate the development of an
  efficient and widespread networking scheme

36
Network Issues

• Battlespace will spread across several hundred
  square miles
• Battlespace will also likely encompass wide range
  of different terrains
• Communication network will need to be designed in
  such as way to allow minimal communication loss
  within this battlespace with between 10,000 and
  20,000 entities

37
Network Issues, cont

• More specific issues include
• Latency
• Losses of signals
• Encryption (affects the speed)
• Full coverage across the battlespace
• Sufficient bandwidth for all users
• Compatibility among different systems and
  components
• Wireless network technologies

38
Summary and Conclusion

• OneTESS will replace legacy TES systems
• MILES systems alone do not handle NLOS and BLOS
  engagements necessary for indirect fire
  operations
• One potential solution for NLOS and BLOS
  engagements is geo-pairing
• Geo-pairing will require innovative
  communications network solutions
• Future papers will discuss NLOS, BLOS, and
  geo-pairing issues in much greater detail

39
(No Transcript)
40
Author Information

• Bradley C. Schricker
• ATT Government Solutions, Inc.(407)
  658-6908bschricker_at_att.com
• Louis Ford
• Icon Systems, Inc.[phone]lford_at_iconsystem
  s.net
• Sonia R. von der Lippe
• BMH Associates(407) 737-3599 ext.
  534vonderlippe_at_bmh.com

41
Contributors

• ATT Government Solutions, Inc.
• www.att.com/gov
• Icon Systems, Inc.
• www.iconsystems.net