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Empower People to Change the World庐
Abstract
In this four-part series, 无忧传媒 examines the four features of the听digital battlespace鈥open, smart, at the edge, and resilient and secure. Here in part two, we detail 鈥渟mart鈥: technologies and new thinking to aggressively integrate, analyze, and leverage data to increase situational awareness.听听
Data is pouring in faster than military and national security operations can analyze it鈥攔equiring innovative technologies that can translate data into insights and deliver information to increase situational awareness. See how a suite of enabling technologies is helping the Department of Defense (DOD) gain information superiority and achieve overmatch.听
According to the听, accelerating DOD modernization programs is critical to stay ahead of near-peer competitors. And our military leaders understand that now, more than ever, information superiority is vital to our success on the battlefield. This means having the right information presented in the right way in the right place in real-time, so warfighters can take action faster than our adversaries.听
However, the environment in the听, the realm of information warfare, is complex and dynamic. Near-peer adversaries exploit vulnerabilities in their attempt to manipulate or compromise the very data our warfighters need to fulfill their mission. This contested, multidomain electronic environment presents many challenges in the quest to understand, analyze, and quickly act on data鈥攊n situations when the slightest error can have dire consequences.听
So how can warfighters gain critical awareness and achieve overmatch against technologically advanced adversaries? Smart solutions, such as听, can prepare our service members for the challenges ahead.听
The Problem:听The U.S. military is facing an explosion of data, and much of this data is trapped in silos or undiscoverable due to varying data platforms and formats. With an ever-increasing amount of raw data sources鈥攆rom body-worn sensors to satellites and intelligence鈥攆eeding those platforms, it鈥檚 nearly impossible for all the users who could benefit from it to discover the right data in the right format in order to even begin to analyze it and create insights for warfighters.
The Smart Solution:听Using an听open, secure integrated network architecture听to translate between existing data platforms, connect these platforms and tactical networks across domains鈥攃reating a federated data model enabling trusted sharing and advanced analytics at the edge.听Having a common reference architecture enables services to choose the options needed to successfully execute the mission, while still retaining the custom data features each branch needs. Employing听DataOps鈥攁 disciplined approach to analytics that parallels the agile, secure software approach to achieve the information flow required by this paradigm鈥攊mproves access, data integration, quality, and accuracy. This allows for faster deployment of analytic models, more effective use of AI and ML, and improved data management.
The Result:听The military will seamlessly collect, analyze, and integrate data across multiple organizational, classification, and functional networks鈥攆rom enterprise to edge. Configured with a secure, trusted data platform on a common听open architecture, this solution removes data from proprietary silos to enable advanced analytics and accelerate innovation.
The Problem:听Data collection is fruitless if warfighters on the digital battlespace aren鈥檛 able to understand and act on its insights in an intuitive, efficient manner. Warfighters must remain focused on the mission, without the distraction of trying to understand and analyze a deluge of data from multiple technologies in their hands or headsets.听
The Smart Solution:听Accelerate analysis with听AI and ML听algorithms听and plug-ins that are trained and continuously refined to identify, analyze, and听deliver real-time data in the format听needed. Using AI/ML, the solution analyzes relevant data and delivers it hands-free to the warfighter to improve decision making and increase situational awareness. Through heads-up displays (HUD) and other听immersive technologies,听warfighters receive the integrated benefits of the physical and virtual world.听As for delivery, a听secure cloud environment听secures and protects data in every battlespace. Warfighters now have access to large sets of data for rapid decision making through automation of baseline configurations, encryption of data at rest, network traffic inspection and protection, identity and authentication services, and reporting mechanisms.
The Result: AI/ML reduces the cognitive load on the warfighter by understanding the data, analyzing it for mission needs, and making decisions for the warfighter, shortening the time it takes service members to take effective action. Through immersive technologies, warfighters are equipped with real-time metrics and near-instantaneous sharing of data which create realistic battlespace features for use in training, planning, and rehearsal鈥攚hile minimizing distraction.
The Problem:听Complexities multiply at the tactical edge, where warfighters don鈥檛 have access to a common operating picture and are often facing adversarial attacks鈥攂oth seen and unseen. Teams have limited access to connectivity, or none at all. Data cannot be transferred to the enterprise level for analysis without increasing vulnerability鈥攁nd losing precious time鈥攊n a contested environment.听
The Smart Solution:听Provide robust data delivery through integrated data environments empowered by听edge computing听and protected by advanced听cybersecurity. Each member of the small-combat team has a sensor processing unit allowing for AI-powered analytics at the tactical edge.听Using technology that is already deployed on the front lines, mesh networks of smart devices transform the local communications environment. The federated data platform enables devices to transmit, process, and share information seamlessly in the field without the need for an off-battlefield cloud or data processing network.
The Result:听Warfighters experience enhanced situational awareness by leveraging smart capabilities to create a continuously updated common operating picture with real-time data relevant to teams at the tactical edge. Sensors gather intel and enable near-instantaneous sharing and receiving of data. The battlefield network assists communication and gives command and control instant access to manned and unmanned vehicles, equipment, and sensors.
By integrating smart technologies, combining data science expertise with in-depth mission and domain knowledge, technical partners can help warfighters succeed. It鈥檚 time to give DOD the advantage in the digital battlespace鈥攕o our military can dominate the future of warfare.听