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Download PDF Version of the GSXXI Overview 
Download PDF Version of the GSXXI Overview
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| | | | | | | | | Ground School XXI (GSXXI) | |
{GSXXI}
In the contemporary operational environment, U.S. soldiers routinely conduct military operations with unmanned systems. Typical current operations include the use of unmanned systems to conduct Improvised Explosive Device (IED) interrogation and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) surveillance and reconnaissance. Current unmanned system operations share two characteristics: the unmanned systems operate both non-autonomously and physically separate from their human teammates. A logical evolution in the employment of unmanned systems in combat is to physically augment human fire teams. However, the U.S. Army does not currently integrate unmanned systems into mixed-initiative team operations or training. The impact of integrating an unmanned system with a human fire team in training represents a critical issue for the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) SFC Paul Ray Smith Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC) is investigating the effect on team performance when a non-autonomous unmanned system is integrated into a human team during training. The unmanned system employed will be a remote weapons station (RWS) prototype, which will replace a human team member. Empirical investigations will be conducted with trained fire teams at several U.S. Army bases using the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 (EST 2000), a virtual training simulation supporting realistic collective training.
This research investigates the potential effects of a non-autonomous unmanned system on team performance when integrated into a human fire team. The research results supplied by this study will serve as a foundation upon which future operational and training strategies can be developed for integrating unmanned systems into human teams.
Possible findings and benefits from this research include:
• Statistical analysis of metrics between manned and unmanned teams' performance
• Does proximity to RWS effect individual performance?
• Does an RWS operator require more communication from his leader to be effective?
• What is comfort level of soldiers when teamed with an unmanned agent?
• How can we better train with unmanned agents in the future?
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{GSXXI}
In the contemporary operational environment, U.S. soldiers routinely conduct military operations with unmanned systems. Typical current operations include the use of unmanned systems to conduct Improvised Explosive Device (IED) interrogation and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) surveillance and reconnaissance. Current unmanned system operations share two characteristics: the unmanned systems operate both non-autonomously and physically separate from their human teammates. A logical evolution in the employment of unmanned systems in combat is to physically augment human fire teams. However, the U.S. Army does not currently integrate unmanned systems into mixed-initiative team operations or training. The impact of integrating an unmanned system with a human fire team in training represents a critical issue for the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) SFC Paul Ray Smith Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC) is investigating the effect on team performance when a non-autonomous unmanned system is integrated into a human team during training. The unmanned system employed will be a remote weapons station (RWS) prototype, which will replace a human team member. Empirical investigations will be conducted with trained fire teams at several U.S. Army bases using the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 (EST 2000), a virtual training simulation supporting realistic collective training.
This research investigates the potential effects of a non-autonomous unmanned system on team performance when integrated into a human fire team. The research results supplied by this study will serve as a foundation upon which future operational and training strategies can be developed for integrating unmanned systems into human teams.
Possible findings and benefits from this research include:
• Statistical analysis of metrics between manned and unmanned teams' performance
• Does proximity to RWS effect individual performance?
• Does an RWS operator require more communication from his leader to be effective?
• What is comfort level of soldiers when teamed with an unmanned agent?
• How can we better train with unmanned agents in the future?
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Simulation to Assess an Unmanned System’s Effect on Team Performance
Ortiz, E.C., Stevens, J., Barber, D., Finkelstein, N.,(2009). Simulation to Assess an Unmanned System’s Effect on Team Performance. Pending publication in Proceedings of the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), Orlando, 2009.
Abstract:
In the contemporary operational environment, U.S. Soldiers routinely conduct military operations with unmanned systems. Typically, these systems are used to conduct Improvised Explosive Device (IED) interrogation, and Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) surveillance, and reconnaissance. Current unmanned systems operat nonautonomously and in a physically separate location from their human teammates. Although the physical augmentation of human Fire Teams by unmanned systems during combat offers a logical extension of this use the U.S. Army does not currently integrate unmanned systems into mixed-initiative team operations or training. The impact of integrating an unmanned system with a human Fire Team represents a critical issue for the U.S. Army.
To investigate the effect on team performance when a non-autonomous unmanned system is integrated into a human team during training, the U.S. Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) SFC Paul Ray Smith Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC), in partnership with the Institute for Simulation and Training at the University of Central Florida, has begun studies in which a human team member is replaced with an unmanned Remote Weapon System (RWS) prototype. At two U.S. Army installations, trials were conducted with trained Fire Teams using the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 (EST 2000), a virtual training simulation supporting realistic collective training. The EST 2000 was utilized to investigate performance differences between Fire Teams who were either fully manned by humans or when one team member was replaced by a RWS prototype. This paper describes the motivation for the investigation, the experimental plan and methodology, some preliminary findings, and the impact on Human-Robot Interactions (HRI). Research results supplied by this study will serve as a foundation for the development of operational and training strategies to enhance the integration of unmanned systems into human teams.
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Eric C. Ortiz
Team Lead, Virtual Learning Environment Development, ACTIVE Lab
Visiting Faculty, Institute for Simulation and Training
M.A., Computer Information/Resource Management, Webster University
B.A., Business Administration, Webster University
A.S., Visual Communications, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Eric became a member of the ACTIVE Lab in 2008 following eight years of service with General Dynamics Information Technology. He has over thirteen years experience in 3D computer animations and simulation, creation of virtual environments, flash web development, and multimedia design. In addition to digital media, he has successfully managed teams of web developers, graphic artists, and programmers in various capacities in multiple locations. The primary areas of focus throughout Eric’s career have been in IT infrastructure/configuration management, along with graphical process design, development, and implementation.
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Research Associate
Office: Partnership II- 325
Phone: 407-882-1498
eortiz@ist.ucf.edu
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Daniel Barber
Research Associate, ACTIVE Lab
Team Lead, Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ACTIVE Lab
Ph.D., Modeling and Simulation, University of Central Florida (In Progress)
B.S., M.S., Computer Engineering, University of Central Florida
Daniel Barber has extensive experience in the field of robotics, with research in intelligent systems, machine learning, human-agent collaboration, control systems, path-planning, computer vision, communication frameworks, and environment modeling. He has designed multiple autonomous systems and is a faculty advisor and mentor for the Robotics Club at the University of Central Florida. Daniel is also a member of the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems (JAUS) Working Group; which facilitates interoperability within unmanned systems. His current research focus is Live, Virtual, and Constructive simulations involving mixed-initiative teams and hybrid machine learning models for human, social, cultural, and behavior modeling.
Mr. Barber's Curriculum Vitae
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Research Associate
Office: Partnership II- 335
Phone: 407-882-1128
dbarber@ist.ucf.edu
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Logan Fiorella
Undergrad Research Associate, ACTIVE Lab
B.S., Psychology, University of Central Florida (In Progress)
Logan is part of the Learning Initiatives team at the ACTIVE Lab. He joined the lab in Spring of 2008. He is presently completing his Bachelor's in General Psychology, after which he plans pursuing graduate study in Human Factors.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
Office: Partnership II- 107
lfiorell@ist.ucf.edu
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Denise Nicholson, Ph.D., CMSP
Director, ACTIVE Lab;
Senior Research Associate, Institute for Simulation and Training;
Faculty, Modeling and Simulation Graduate Program;
Research Scientist, College of Optics and Photonics/CREOL
M.S., Ph.D., Optical Sciences, University of Arizona
B.S., Electrical Computer Engineering, Clarkson University
Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional (CMSP)
Dr. Nicholson's research focus on human systems modeling, simulation and training includes virtual reality, human–agent collaboration, and adaptive human systems technologies for Department of Defense applications. She joined the university in 2005 with over 18 years of government service ranging from bench-level research at the Air Force Research Lab to leadership as the Deputy Director for Science and Technology at the U.S. Navy's NAVAIR Training Systems Division.
Dr. Nicholson's Curriculum Vitae
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ACTIVE Lab
Director
Office: Partnership II- 319
Phone: 407-882-1444
dnichols@ist.ucf.edu
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