Execution-time Decision Aids for Command and Control of Robotic Entities

Unmanned Systems are rapidly increasing in numbers and capabilities. From 2002 to 2008 the number of robots in the Pentagon arsenal has grown from 200 to 6,000, many of these supporting the soldier in the close battle. Contrasting this growth in unmanned assets, the Army’s future force tactical organization reduces soldier numbers and, by extension, the number of robotics officers. Other soldiers in the force structure take on the robotics officer role, increasing their workload and effectively hindering their primary warfighting role.

SAIC has been working with CERDEC C2D over the last three years (and AMRDEC prior to this) to introduce Battle Command decision aids supporting (semi) autonomous execution and collaboration of unmanned assets. This paper takes a qualitative/conceptual style to describe a behavior management approach to command and control of multiple unmanned assets.