Information depends on intelligence that guides decisions. The value of sophisticated intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination is well-recognized and now considered critical by military and homeland security leaders. Their missions depend on information that guides decisions on where, when, and how resources must be applied for mission success.

Situation Understanding — The ability to see what is happening in your Area Of Responsibility (AOR). The ability to see what the enemy intends. The ability to put your forces in the right place at the right time with the right response.

Knowledge is a force multiplier and the software developed by Overwatch Systems Tactical Operations (Overwatch TacOps) will identify threats, aggregate battlefield objects, suggest sensor planning improvements and monitor the force’s readiness to react to potential enemy threats. Relevant information is readily available in the form of a Common Operational Picture (COP). This COP will lead to faster, better synchronized battle plans and execution.

Overwatch TacOps has designed an open architecture approach to meet our customer’s demanding fusion requirements. We’ve developed effective tools for analysis of data to derive the true conventional and asymmetric threat and then convey that information to the Commander and staff. This work is oriented toward detecting patterns in the data including events that predict enemy actions allowing the warfighter to understand the situation and act first to influence the battle outcome.

VISION — Under an Army contract, Overwatch TacOps is responsible for work in various Battle Command areas; (1) Situation Understanding, (2) Supporting Planning and Preparation, (3) Level 1 Fusion (fusion at the sensor level) and (4) Battle Command Mission Execution. The Army’s confidence that Overwatch TacOps will solve the difficult fusion problem is supported by experience from our previous successes.

SOLVING DISTRIBUTED COP MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES

Network Communications Bandwidth May Be Inadequate to Share COP

• Adopt a common probability-based approach for assessing confidence and pedigree of results.

• Share all data and results as supported by available communications bandwidth using pedigree to avoid over-counting.

Use Publish/Subscribe to Distribute Data Within the AOI

• Units within the AOI will receive rapid updates of Battlespace Objects (BSO) while units outside of AOI, with a lesser interest, receive only relevant updates at a lower priority.

Sensor Pedigree

• Use of a sensor’s pedigree helps minimize the flow of tracks that don’t warrant being forwarded.

Confidence Level

• The confidence level associated with a BSO provides assurance to the user that the system has placed a high value on the BSO before distribution.

Fusion Occurs Dynamically Across Battlefield

• Distributed fusion occurs throughout the AOI, and at the lowest level possible.

• Only the BSOs of interest to the user, tailored to role and echelon, are passed to the user.

Information Request

For more information contact Paul Jensen at 512-358-2647.