home Geospatial GPS Simulation Tech in High-Priority Field

Simulation Tech in High-Priority Field

Jul 9, 2021

Photo illust US Air Force — A 96th Security Forces Squadron uses the android tactical assault kit to send a message from his patrol vehicle July 5 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The ATAK is a new communication system implemented at Eglin that so far has provided significant improvements in the base’s defense mission. The tablet-based system provides written communication, pictures, mapping, GPS and data access to defenders more quickly than previous methods which relied heavily on radio transmissions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

07The U.S. military has over the years structured its weapons systems around GPS positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). This has created dependence and associated vulnerability—GPS may be targeted and may not always be available in contested military operating areas. One of the primary ways the DoD will deal with this is to access multiple diverse sources of PNT, according to a recent DoD strategy document.

A new modeling and simulation (M&S) software will enable scientists and engineers in the US military to understand the effectiveness of resilient PNT technology on combat missions. Military researchers will use the software to model how potential PNT capabilities perform across air, sea, and land.

The solution developed by Draper is new software, known as the Multi-Domain Quantitative Decision Aid (MQDA), which will be used to analyze PNT components and systems in simulated environments and mission scenarios more quickly, easily and cost-effectively than can be done in the real world.

For example, researchers can simulate the efficiency of different PNT sensors and measure the impact on a wide variety of combat scenarios.

Tools such as MQDA save time and money by providing early insight into the development process. Analyzing multiple combinations of PNT technologies enables the identification of the most effective ones, which then can be prioritized for development funding. This potentially enables the funding of more effective solutions, according to armyrecognition.com.