Mission effectiveness quantification and assessment of Micro Autonomous Systems and Technologies

Abstract

Micro Autonomous Systems and Technologies (MAST) is an Army Research Laboratory (ARL) sponsored project based on a consortium of revolutionary academic and industrial research institutions working together to develop new technologies in the field of microelectronics, autonomy, micromechanics, and integration. The overarching goal of the MAST consortium is to develop autonomous, multifunctional, and collaborative ensembles of microsystems to enhance small unit tactical situational awareness in urban and complex terrain, providing real-time intelligence at the squad level. Technologists are trying to understand the impacts of developing state-of-the-art technologies on the MAST systems while the operators are trying to define strategies and tactics on how to use these systems. These two different perspectives create an integration gap that not only results in a major requirements disconnect, representing the difference of perspectives between soldiers and the researchers, but also demonstrates the lack of quantified means to assess the technology metrics in terms of mission requirements. An multidisciplinary framework, built on a technical approach of simultaneous application of decomposition and re-composition approaches, is implemented to provide a structured and traceable method for quantifying mission effectiveness of MAST System of Microsystems (SoMs). An Interior Building Reconnaissance mission scenario, based on a physical test site at Joppa, MD, was analyzed using the framework. Results demonstrated minimum required technology metrics for reasonable mission level performance of SoMs. Comparison with current state of the art provided quantitative technology attribute gaps.