The Course of Action Challenge Problem (COA CP)

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The Course of Action Challenge Problem (COA CP)
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Basic Stuff

• COA CP replaces the BS CP
• SMEs author COAs and the knowledge used to
  critique them
• SHAKEN must acquire this knowledge from SMEs and
  automatically generate critiques of COAs

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Whats a COA?

• A COA describes a mission
• An objective
• Units and equipment to be used
• Actions to perform
• Time constraints
• Terrain characteristics

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The Author of a COA is Given a Problem Description

• Sketched terrain map, indicating
• roadways, rivers, lakes, hills, forests
• placements of blue units (good guys) and red
  units (bad guys)
• Scenario narrative, including non-graphical
  information, such as
• recent history, current dynamics, status of
  military units
• Mission specification, including objectives and
  constraints
• (e.g. Capture the hill by sunset, using at
  most 10 of resources)

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From this Problem Description, the SME authors
one or more COAs

• Estimate of the situation, following
  METT-T/OCOKA, e.g. terrain analysis, such as
  lines of communication and avenues of approach
• COA sketch an overlay on the problem
  statements terrain sketch
• Commanders intent a high level description of
  the goal and rationale.
• Description of Main Attack, Supporting Attack,
  Fire Support, and Reserve for each, a
  description of units, actions, and purpose
• COA (initial) critique, along these dimensions
  mission accomplishment, speed, simplicity, use of
  terrain, fire support, risk, and readiness for
  follow-up operations

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OCAKA

• OCAKA Principles for analyzing the terrain for
  Observation and fields of fire, Cover and
  concealment, Obstacles, Key terrain, and Avenues
  of approach.
• For example Obstacles are any obstructions that
  stop, delay, or divert movement. Obstacles can be
  natural (rivers, swamps, cliffs, or mountains) or
  they may be artificial (barbed wire
  entanglements, pits, concrete or metal
  anti-mechanized traps). They can be ready-made or
  constructed in the field. Always consider any
  possible obstacles along your movement route and,
  if possible, try to keep obstacles between the
  enemy and yourself.

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METT-T

• Other dimensions for analysis, such as
• Troops. The size and type of the unit to be
  moved and its capabilities, physical condition,
  status of training, and types of equipment
  assigned all affect the selection of routes,
  positions, fire plans, and the various decisions
  to be made during movement. On ideal terrain such
  as relatively level ground with little or no
  woods, a platoon can defend a front of up to 400
  meters. Heavily wooded areas or very hilly
  areas may reduce the front a platoon can defend.
  The size of the unit must also be taken into
  consideration when planning a movement to
  contact. During movement, the unit must retain
  its ability to maneuver. A small draw or stream
  may reduce the unit's maneuverability but provide
  excellent concealment. All of these factors must
  be considered.

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COA CP Process Overview

•  
• SMEi authors COA in Shaken.
• Shaken produces critique Ci.
• SMEj criticizes Ci and specifies knowledge Ki
  necessary to improve critique Ci.
• SMEj enters knowledge Ki into Shaken.
• Go to Step 2.
•  
• Notes
• -        SMEi produces a COA SMEj critiques that
  COA. SMEs do not critique their own COAs.
• -        The critique Ci is produced by Shaken.
• -        This process is repeated for several
  iterations and we score the rate of acquisition
  of knowledge K i. It should decrease
  indicating that the critiquing knowledge is
  approaching a complete set.
• -        Halfway through the summer evaluation,
  we should get new SMEs to guard against
• overfitting of KR to COAs. We could
  also pursue cross validating results and
  randomizing.

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• Notes
• SMEi authors COA Ci
• SMEj adds/refines critiquing knowledge, Ki
• SMEj does not refine the COA, Ci thats
  considered fixed
• SMEi might author a set of COA, and part of
  critique Ci is
• to compare, contrast, and score them

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Schedule
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An Example COA, from General Otstott
http//www.cs.utexas.edu/users/porter/Private/COA-
CP-Example.doc
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A Preliminary Storyboard from Jihie
http//www.cs.utexas.edu/users/porter/Private/stor
yboard-from-jihie.ppt