Traditionally, military simulation has been problem domain specific. Executing an exercise currently requires multiple
simulation software providers to specialize, deploy, and configure their respective implementations, integrate the
collection of software to achieve a specific system behavior, and then execute for the purpose at hand. This approach
leads to rigid system integrations which require simulation expertise for each deployment due to changes in location,
hardware, and software. Our alternative is Software as a Service (SaaS) predicated on the virtualization of Night Vision
Electronic Sensors (NVESD) sensor simulations as an exemplary case. Management middleware elements layer self
provisioning, configuration, and integration services onto the virtualized sensors to present a system of services at run
time. Given an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) environment, enabled and managed system of simulations yields a
durable SaaS delivery without requiring user simulation expertise. Persistent SaaS simulations would provide on demand
availability to connected users, decrease integration costs and timelines, and benefit the domain community from
immediate deployment of lessons learned.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Control systems, Video, Computer architecture, Web services, Telecommunications, Defense and security, Software development, Systems modeling, Sensor networks
NVESD is developing a Sensor Data and Management Services (SDMS) Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) that
provides an innovative approach to achieve seamless application functionality across simulation and battle command
systems. In 2010, CERDEC will conduct a SDMS Battle Command demonstration that will highlight the SDMS SOA
capability to couple simulation applications to existing Battle Command systems. The demonstration will leverage
RDECOM MATREX simulation tools and TRADOC Maneuver Support Battle Laboratory Virtual Base Defense
Operations Center facilities. The battle command systems are those specific to the operation of a base defense
operations center in support of force protection missions.
The SDMS SOA consists of four components that will be discussed. An Asset Management Service (AMS) will
automatically discover the existence, state, and interface definition required to interact with a named asset (sensor or a
sensor platform, a process such as level-1 fusion, or an interface to a sensor or other network endpoint). A Streaming
Video Service (SVS) will automatically discover the existence, state, and interfaces required to interact with a named
video stream, and abstract the consumers of the video stream from the originating device. A Task Manager Service
(TMS) will be used to automatically discover the existence of a named mission task, and will interpret, translate and
transmit a mission command for the blue force unit(s) described in a mission order. JC3IEDM data objects, and
software development kit (SDK), will be utilized as the basic data object definition for implemented web services.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Video, Single crystal X-ray diffraction, Control systems, Sensor networks, Distributed computing, Computer programming, Interfaces, Process control, Video processing
Since 2003, the US Army's RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision Electronic Sensor Directorate (NVESD) has been
developing a distributed Sensor Management System (SMS) that utilizes a framework which demonstrates application
layer, net-centric sensor management. The core principles of the design support distributed and dynamic discovery of
sensing devices and processes through a multi-layered implementation. This results in a sensor management layer that
acts as a System with defined interfaces for which the characteristics, parameters, and behaviors can be described. Within
the framework, the definition of a protocol is required to establish the rules for how distributed sensors should operate.
The protocol defines the behaviors, capabilities, and message structures needed to operate within the functional design
boundaries. The protocol definition addresses the requirements for a device (sensors or processes) to dynamically join or
leave a sensor network, dynamically describe device control and data capabilities, and allow dynamic addressing of
publish and subscribe functionality. The message structure is a multi-tiered definition that identifies standard, extended,
and payload representations that are specifically designed to accommodate the need for standard representations of
common functions, while supporting the need for feature-based functions that are typically vendor specific.
The dynamic qualities of the protocol enable a User GUI application the flexibility of mapping widget-level controls to
each device based on reported capabilities in real-time. The SMS approach is designed to accommodate scalability and
flexibility within a defined architecture. The distributed sensor management framework and its application to a tactical
sensor network will be described in this paper.
KEYWORDS: Sensors, Standards development, Control systems, Data communications, Telecommunications, Data acquisition, Computer architecture, Unattended ground sensors, Phase modulation, Software development
The roles of sensor systems in the current and Future Force have necessarily affected an evolution of the requirements for the distribution and management of sensor data. No longer do the closed, stove pipe solutions of the past come close to meeting the interoperability needs. New sensor technologies and deployment concepts have pushed sensors into the network centric world and have simultaneously presented a requirement for joint standard digital communications capable of dynamic discovery of nodes on the network, runtime reconfiguration of sensing devices, multi-connection support, and sensor to sensor direct communications.
To meet these evolving sensor system data management, interface and communications requirements, a team of Government and defense contractors has collaborated to define a component-wise sensor interface architecture and messaging standard. The core component of this sensor interoperability architecture is the proposed Sensor Data Link (SDL) messaging standard. SDL provides a flexible framework of joint standard data representations, messages, and common processes for current and Future Force sensors.
Measurement of the Optical Transfer Function (OTF) of discretely sampled thermal imaging systems, e.g. parallel scanned FLIR systems, on which analysis is done in the cross scan direction, and staring focal plane arrays, it increasingly important as digital image acquisition device technology for the 3 - 5 and 8 - 12 micron (infrared) spectral regions is maturing. The traditional measurement methods used for continuous scan systems may not be valid for discretely sampled systems. This paper presents results of measurements of the OTF using a translating slit to obtain the Line Spread Function (LSF) for discretely sampled systems. Multiple frame acquisition is used for removal of temporal and fixed pattern noise. It is the intent of this laboratory effort to develop a measurement technique to be used when collecting OTF data for discretely sampled systems. The new measurement technique is potentially suitable for all systems, and if successful, will permit characterization of vertical system MTF. If this measurement method is found to be useful, it will be used to generate the OTF data used in the NVEOD FLIR92 model for further development and verification of the model.
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