Requirements of an ITSSimulation Interoperability Standard ISIS

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Requirements of an ITS/Simulation
Interoperability Standard (I/SIS)

• 2004 Fall SIW

Presented by Dick Stottler Stottler Henke
Associates, Inc. stottler_at_stottlerhenke.com B
rian Spaulding MÄK Technologies,
Inc. bspaulding_at_mak.com
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Overview

• Problem Description
• Helicopter ITS Case Study, Simulation Supports
  ITS
• Integration Requirements
• Implemented Integration Solution
• General Requirements of I/SIS
• Battle Command ITS Case Study, ITS Supports Sim.
• Simulation Driven Interface
• Integration Requirements
• Implemented Integration Solution
• Proposed I/SIS Direction

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Problem DescriptionITSs integrated with Tactical
Simulations

• ITS Automated Tutor (evaluation, tailored
  instruction)
• Looks over students shoulder during simulated
  scenarios
• ITSs and Simulations are from Different
  Developers
• ITS needs access to ALL student actions
• Not just those observable outside his simulated
  platform
• E.G. Plans, orders, comms, internal software use
• ITS may need to start simulation with a scenario
• ITS may need to control some parts of the
  scenario
• ITS may need mechanism for feedback in simulation
• Simulation may need mechanism to start ITS
• Simulation may need to select evaluations

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Helicopter ITS Case StudyDescription

• Teaches beginner helicopter pilots during flight
  exercises
• Instruction includes real-time coaching and AAR
• Coaching is multi-level
• Initially observations of problems
• Direct attention by flashing instruments
• If student fails to correct, coaching becomes
  more directive
• Beginners get more more detailed coaching than
  advanced
• ITS plans instruction, assigns exercises
• Based on mastery and personality attributes
• ITS interfaced to Microsoft Flight Simulator
• ITS in control and is main application to the
  student

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Helicopter ITS Case StudyIntegration Requirements

• Start MSFC with ITS assigned scenario
• Monitor helicopter states and pilot inputs
• Present Coaching/AAR
• Audio
• Text
• Flashing instruments
• Graphics
• Take control of wild helicopter
• ITS/MSFS coordinated scenario/evaluation entry
• ITS/MSFS coordinated feedback authoring/presentati
  on
• Consistent interface across simulations

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Helicopter ITS Case StudyImplemented Integration
Solution

• Flight Simulator Universal Inter-Process
  Communication (FSUIPC)
• Shared memory paradigm (virtual)
• Specific memory locations can be retrieved or set
• Actually consists of .dll in MSFS c code in
  ITS
• 2 FSUIPC components communicate across processes
• Capabilities/interface provided are ad hoc and
  unique
• Flashing instruments done outside of FSUIPC
• Student directed to start MSFC with specific
  scenarios
• Simulated out-of-control helicopter was reset
• ITS interfaced to others by rewriting interface
  module
• Formalized API for interfacing to simulators
• Different simulators, different
  capabilities/interface/ITS

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General I/SIS Requirements

• ITS access to student actions (ex/internal)
• Presenting real-time coaching and AAR
• ITS/Simulation coordinated scenario start
• Scenario control
• Other possible
• Additional scenario info needed by ITS for
  evaluation
• ITS driven replay
• ITS interactivity, e.g. Socratic dialog
• Consistent User IDs between ITS and simulation

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Battle Command ITS Case StudyDescription

• Army Tactical trainer
• Enables commanders and staff officers to practice
  planning and execution skills
• Plan, fight and review battle
• HLA-compliant
• Single- or multi-player
• MILSTD-2525B tactical graphics

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Battle Command ITS Case StudySimulation-Driven
ITS Interface

• From simulation-driven perspective
• Accessory available to support and enhance
  simulation training objectives
• Could be interactive real-time feedback or
  evaluation engine available at completion or at
  pre-defined stages
• Should be transparent
• Seamlessly embedded and consistent with GUI
• Overall goal to augment basic functionality with
  intelligent evaluation, hinting, and debriefing
  capabilities and to provide more effective
  training environment

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Battle Command ITS Case StudyIntegration
Requirements

• Goal use ITS to enhance learning experience
• Planning
• Provide feedback, either interactively during
  planning or at end by evaluating completed plan
• Execution
• Could be used to evaluate trainees performance
• AAR
• Automatically generate time-stamped text to
  annotate key events
• Provide positive feedback or identify specific
  time where poor decision was made

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Battle Command ITS Case StudyImplemented
Integration Solution

• ITS and BC-2010 existed as separate applications
• Separate window containing buttons to evaluate
  plan and execution results
• Not optimal approach (done as 1st step due to
  limited funding and time)
• Demonstrated additional value of incorporating
  ITS
• User interactions
• Prepared plan, ask ITS to evaluate plan, repeat
  if necessary
• When execution complete, ask ITS to review
  performance
• Feedback displayed as text in browser
• All communication via HLA (RPR FOM)
• Platform and Aggregate details, fire/detonate
  interactions
• Proprietary VR-Forces data (tactical graphics,
  tasking)
• Neutral graphics to define correct solutions

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Proposed I/SIS DirectionHLA Based

• Standardized constructs to encapsulate unit and
  vehicles positions and time-varying status
• Platform and Aggregate details and interactions
  available in standard FOMs (RPR, NTMF, etc.)
• Standardized definitions for planning objects
  (tactical graphics or other planning documents)
• Good starting point - NTMF, C4I Reference FOM
• Generalized mechanisms to define structured tasks
  or other C4I messages
• Battle Management Language
• Mechanism to define measures of performance and
  identify correct solutions
• AAR Support
• Structures to define data recording insert
  time-stamped annotations