SBIR-STTR Award

Demonstrate the feasibility of a wide range of Army personnel verbally communicating with Army Command and Control applications as a replacement for or adjunct to the more traditional input/out devices (i.e., keyboard, touch-screen, trackball, joystick, etc.). Common military language input will be recognizable and acted upon by the C2 application; developed interface drivers will interpret commands using an ATCCS universal Application Program Interface. A microchip will be developed containing the voice recognition system, bridging the gap between the application program and the computer hardware, then voice recognition techniques can become more flexible for portable and remote user access. The Common Hardware and Software environment is an extremely significant opportunity since development of the Voice Recognition System capability for it will enable other planned compatible computer family members to have voice input as an alternative way of interfacing with the broad spectrum of ATCCS applications. The voice recognition system together with the Application Program Interface will be able to translate voice input into a suitable format for most C2 applications including Battalion and Below C2 and Soldiers' Computer Input/Output Interface miniaturization. Computer generated voice output will demonstrate competitive candidate methods, including: unlimited text-to-speech synthesis, a predefined library, and high quality digital reproduction capability.

Benefits:
The use of voice to control a system means that an operator's hands and eyes are free for other critical tasks. Tis increases a person's combat effectiveness and chance for survival. Quality voice output from the system will make a voice processing system accessible to the blind, since all interaction with the system will be through speaking or hearing. Commercial applications include voice-controlled typewriters, security systems, phone systems, safety devices, robotics, inventory control, and general replacement of keypads for computer interfaces.

The objective is the exploratory development, miniaturization, and demonstration of a universal and advanced technology voice recognition and synthesis capability suitable for a tactical environment. TERIs active participation in state-of-the-art voice processing systems presents a unique opportunity for the preliminary development of a microchip implementation based upon TERIs experience with Phase I development of a miniaturized architecture, and knowledge of ATCCS and Battlefield Functional Area applications. TERIs candidate architecture demonstrates the feasibility of a wide range of Army personnel verbally communicating with Army C2 applications as a replacement for or adjunct to more traditional 1/0 devices (i .e., keyboard, trackball, display, etc.). Common military language input is recognizable and acted upon by the C2 application then the TERI developed interface drivers interpret commands using an ATCCS universal multi-layered API. Computer generated voice output demonstrates the effective combination of candidate methods, including: unlimited text-to-speech synthesis, a predefined unique pronunciation library, and a high quality digital reproduction capability. Use of sub-micron process technology is proposed for the implementation of common processing module silica that is central to the miniaturization of the voice interactive functions and has DoD wide spin-off application to ASIC and MCM chip packaging and manufacture.

Benefits:
A miniaturized voice interaction chip can be used for voice control of a system when an operator's hands and eyes are free for other critical tasks. This improves combat effectiveness and chance for survival. Quality voice output from the system will make a voice processing system accessible to the blind, having all interaction through sljeaking or hearing. Commercial applications include voice-controlled typewriters, security systems, phone systems, safety devices, robotics, inventory, and general replacement of keypads for computer interfaces.

Keywords:
Multi Chip Module Synthesis Processing Speech Control Recognition Command Voice