SBIR-STTR Award

This project will develop innovative part-task trainer (PTT) concepts for a new generation PTT that is affordable due to application and integration of COTS simulation components utilizing recent hardware and software technology advances. Navy aerial refueling (AR) receiver aircraft are equipped with a probe that plugs a fuel receptacle encircled by a basket attached to a tanker aircraft hose. The common aerial refueling task for all combinations of receiver aircraft and tankers is plugging the basket and safely receiving fuel 0x9D . This task is performed on calm clear days, but also during a large variety of environmental and time-of-day conditions and during risky malfunctions and emergency conditions. A simulator allows practice until proficiency is achieved without waiting for a real world bad weather or emergency condition. A dedicated PTT for AR training creates an opportunity to assemble the best simulation technology available while achieving affordability 0x9D by not making performance or cost compromises for other training tasks. AVT Simulation has experience in development and fielding of affordable reconfigurable PTT. They are based on AVTs Modular Simulation Architecture. AVT has several years of experience with simulation of the aerial refueling process through participation in USAF and Air National Guard aerial refueling simulator upgrades.

Benefit:
Improve aircraft piloting skills in aerial refueling with affordable Part-Task Trainer (PTT) utilizing simulation based on advanced technologies and available low-cost components. Many international military aircraft are aerial refueling capable and can benefit from a PTT. AVT has developed several PTTs for international customers and will use this same commercial application strategy for a new aerial refueling PTT.

Keywords:
Affordable PTT, Affordable PTT, Part-Task Trainer, Aerial Refueling Simulator, Reconfigurable PTT

Chameleon is a synthesis of standards, frameworks, tools and processes. In a nutshell, Chameleon utilizes a combination of Semantic Web/Web 2.0 technologies (OWL, RDF, Ajax, REST) layered upon a platform of more venerable enterprise technologies (RDMBS, Java Virtual Machine) into a Model/Ontology Driven Architecture, with the resulting plug-in based UI having the ability to be built on-the-fly. Our synthesis approach allows us to leverage the extensive research and lessons learned by the community rather than proposing development from scratch while still leveraging leading-edge technologies as part of the solution. This dynamic architectural base will provide a responsive, rapid-iteration environment that will facilitate the exploration and application of cutting edge theories in adaptive user interfaces (Bayesian networks/learning classifiers, artificial intelligence, machine learning, etc.) in order to accomplish the goal of providing an adaptive user interface coupled to a complex data model that satisfies a broad user community with varying needs.

Benefit:
The potential applicability of the Chameleon approach to domain modeling, coupled with adaptive UI behavior, is wide-ranging. For example, consider a system containing airline flight information and reservations. Such a system would be utilized by an individual traveler to book a flight. But a travel agent scheduling multiple flights en masse would require more of a power 0x9D interface. The same domain model would be used to display flight status to those awaiting arrival of a traveler, and would also be used by baggage tracking software. Someone in charge of setting prices for various flights might analyze how full the planes are, and how far they are traveling. Maintenance crews would need to know how many miles particular planes have logged in between inspection and servicing. The list goes on. Each different user base has different usage patterns and requires a different UI with access to a different subset of the domain elements. Usage of an ontology-driven dynamic architecture with an adaptive UI would greatly facilitate the process of evolving the domain model in many industries. In fact any industry with a complex, evolving domain and a diverse user community can benefit from an adaptive system such as the proposed Chameleon. In summary, while the Federal Government across the board needs a capability to address the problem in this SBIR, the Services in particular with its migration to net-centric operations, would benefit greatly from the proposed Chameleon effort to support missions ranging from battlefield operations to disaster relief to humanitarian assistance. If successful, Chameleon would support the Navy Satellite Communications (SATCOM) program and other DoD programs by allowing operators to access an ever-expanding pool of data sources and then customize their views to support various and growing mission areas whether they be command and control, air defense, real-time battlefield logistics, counter-IED, joint fires, blue force tracking, terrain analysis, weather, or network operations, to name a few.

Keywords:
Dynamic object model, Ontology, adaptive user interface, Model Driven Architecture, Declarative Application Metamodel, Intelligent Agents