Soldier’s Digital Assistant (SDA)

Rockwell Collins Proprietary Information

Soldier’s Digital Assistant (SDA)

Naval Research Labs

April 8, 2005

Convoy Situation Awareness and Voice Communication for IED Damage Prevention, Mitigation and Response…


IED Threat

• In January 2005 alone, guerillas in Iraq have set off 974 of the jury-rigged weapons - forty-one percent of the insurgents' attacks, the New York Times says.

• More than half of U.S. casualties in Iraq are from IED strikes, according to estimates from the Lexington Institute.

• According to D-SECDEF, this is the DoD’s #1 Priority…


The Need

• “The focus should be on prolonged low-intensity conflict and on systems tailored for small combat units, he said.”

• “The number one problem for soldiers is network-enabled battle command. Small units lack situational awareness technologies, such as Blue Force Tracking, a common operational picture and the ability to fuse disparate data. The flow of information in real time is a problem.”

– Brig. Gen. Philip Coker, director of capabilities development at the Training and Doctrine Command's Futures Center in Fort Monroe, Va.

Excerpts taken from January 2005 National Defense Magazine Article. Click this text box to

read entire article.


IED Threat

• Fallujah Urban Area Roughly 20 Sq Kilometers In Size– Average City Block = 100 X 200 Meters

– Average Number of Fallujah City Blocks = 1000

• 653 total IEDs were found and detonated in Fallujah. The average number of IEDs found and/or detonated across Iraq per month from July to October [2004] was 772.

• 11 IED Factories were found.


Two Currently Fielded Capabilities

• Army Authorized to buy 43,000 units

• 5,000 Units on Order

• 14,000 Units Delivered

• 50,000 Units on Order

The Icom Radio• IC-F43G UHF Transceiver•Click the photo to view the Icom Brochure

The Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR)• AN/PSN 13•A Rockwell Collins Product•Click the photo to view the DAGR Brochure


The Icom Radio History

• The Army needs reliable communications systems for urban operations, said Coker. Troops were sent to war with a squad radio, produced by Icom America Inc. But that radio proved so ineffective that the soldiers resorted to a $60 Sony walkabout, which works at ranges of 3 kilometers and is compatible with Army frequencies, said Coker.

• “Here we have the only way for these kids to talk because the Icom radio we bought them is hideously useless,” he said. In order to use the radio, soldiers had to turn off the jammers in the vehicles, because otherwise the radio could not function. “That is criminal. We have failed our soldiers.”

• The Army, however, proceeded to buy another Icom radio, this time produced by the Japanese Icom company. Now, the Icom 43 is “wonderful,” Coker said. The Army plans to buy 43,000 during the next three months.

Excerpts taken from January 2005 National Defense Magazine Article. Click this text box to

read entire article.


DAGR Summary

• Reduced Warfighter Loadout for 72 hour missions

– As compared with PLGR, 3.5 lbs less

• Unmatched Savings -- $700M for Program

– $4700 Battery Savings per DAGR over PLGR during its 10 year service life.

• Ease of Use in the field

– Electronic Map/Sat Images

– Electronic compass

• Positional and Navigational confidence

– Anti-Jam Features Increase GPS Utility

– Fast Acquisition and User Feature Set are familiar to Commercial GPS Users

• Commitment to continuous Product Improvement

DAGR, designed for the Warfighter.


• <25 cu. Inches• <1 lbs. (15 ounces) including batteries• Large Graphics LCD• Survives POL, NBC, HEMP environments• Wide -32 to +70 °C. operation• >25,000 hr. MTBEFF demonstrated (80%)

• Very High Display Impact Protection and Improved Scratch Resistant Lens• 14 hrs (22 hrs typical) continuous track / 4 AA batteries• 144hrs (200 hrs typical) at 4 fixes/hr track• <10 sec Direct-Y Hotstart Acquisition• <15-30 sec typical Direct-Y Warmstart Acquisition • >50 dB J/S Tracking• L1 and L2 Simultaneous Dual Frequency Reception• 12 Channel Parallel Tracking Signal Processing• Jammer Detector and Pointer• Internal Electronic Compass• Web based downloads and DAGR to DAGR reprogramming• Targeting, LRF and CAS9-Line Growth for FO/FAC, GLS/survey capable• Serial Port compatibility with PLGR integrations• DAGR and Accessories fit within existing PLGR volumes

DAGR’s design is the result of over 11 years of user feedback and lessons-learned.

DAGR Physical Attributes


•The IC-F43G series covers a wide frequency range in one version (Two versions available, 400–470MHz or 450–512 (520) MHz).

•The 256 memory channel capacity with 16 memory banks allows you to divide and store a variety of flexible channel groupings.

•Easy memory channel selection with a simple rotation of the rotary channel knob.

IC-F43GT Features

Power 1W 2W

Urban

Environment1 km 2 km

Rural

Environment2-3 km 5 km

Typical Operating Range*

*Range may vary based on environment


What is the Soldier’s Digital Assistant

++ ==

Two proven devices combined to give the warfighter a solution that’s greater than the sum of its parts!

• Voice Communication• Navigation Capability• Situation Awareness


Soldiers Digital Assistant (SDA)

SDA Leverages the Competencies of 14,000 (And Growing) Delivered DAGR Units by Offering New Capabilities for Individual Soldiers at a Significant

Cost Savings Over Existing Methods

Secured position and status reporting to squad leader for

passage to upper-level FBCB2/BFT systems

BFT-coordinated commands via voice from squad leader to individual

soldiers

Enhanced GPS-based position by exchange of data between soldiers

Secured text and voice comm within squad

Networked position and status exchange of spot report data,

enemy locations, and self location

Potential to use SDA systems for IFF and

CSAR actions at individual soldier level

Exploits existing capabilities of DAGR GPS handheld to reduce

need for similar-functionality equipment via DAGR-extension

“backpack” data link

001 Moving forward

002 Moving left

004 Halt and return

000 Enemy at XXXXX

UNIT SELECT: XXX

MSG TEXT: ____________


Mechanical Design Considerations

• Eliminates the need to carry multiple devices

– Units affixed to eliminate the need for cables

• Weight – Entire System ~23 oz.– Same batteries utilized by both

systems (AAs)– The radio’s speaker, microphone,

keyboard, display eliminated

• The integration of the two units is being carefully planned to allow retrofitting of existing DAGRs with the radio in the field

• Pass-through of serial cable allows for use of existing peripherals


SDA Applications / Benefits

• Individual situational awareness/BFT minimizes friendly fire and creates a very low cost IFF (Interrogation Friend or Foe) system

– Can interrogate by voice OR data

• Squad leader visibility to local team members in real time allows more efficient field of fire laydowns and reduces decision time in planning attacks

• Facilitates combat search and rescue


SDA Applications / Benefits

• Allows for quick dispersal of troops to coordinate perimeters

• Price level consistent with the need to proliferate capability

• Use of existing equipment mitigates policy issues

– DAGR compliant with OSD GPS/SAASM Mandate dtd. October ’02

– Frequency allocations presumed to be accommodated through Icom procurement

– SCA compliancy waiver presumed to be accommodated through Icom procurement


SDA System Specification Summary

• The SDA will display appropriate radio warnings• The SDA will display up to 20 participant nodes with a unique

identifier on a map or geo-rectified image and will indicate after a period of time that the node location has not been updated

• The SDA will mitigate the effect of hostile meaconing• The SDA will share it’s position in two user selectable modes:

– On a user-defined timed interval basis

– When the Push-to-talk button is released

• The SDA can command all other participant nodes to send position report under the following modes:– Under a one time only position request

– On a continual periodic basis

• The SDA will allow user control of encryption and radio transmit power


Summary

• The SDA will greatly benefit the warfighter– Designed to be cost effective allowing for wide-scale proliferation

based on affordability• Leverages already significant investment in fielded DAGRs• Provides for greater capability at lower echelons

– Facilitates efficient operations based on situation awareness which should relieve burden

• Rockwell Collins has fully supported this development– Capability and affordability of solution suggested that we should

begin ASAP for the benefit of the warfighter– Rapid prototypes in hand – Established data communication capability (not available in off-the-

shelf Icom radio)– Domestic (US) demonstration capability available 26 April 2005– Planning for 55 units to be available 1 June 2005 for field trials

• Material for production representative SDAs being placed on order


Backup


SDA Modifications to Icom 43 Radio

• Modifications to the Icom 43 Radio for use in the SDA Module Include the Following.

– Removal of Internal Speaker and Microphone

– Elimination 4 Function Buttons

– Transfer of Radio Command & Control Functions from Radio to DAGR Unit

– Movement of Push-to-talk radio button from radio to in-line headset


RCI Past Experience

• RCI has significant experience in navigation, GPS, communications, network data exchange, human factors, and soldier systems

• RCI has performed successfully in several past programs related to the overall SDA concept– IRIS PLGR position exchange for location reporting/SitAw (Canada/CDF –

1997-2001)

– Lightforce tactical PDA proposal (RCI-1998)

– Bowman in-vehicle GPS HH device for position reporting (2001-2004)

– PLGR LAN GPS HH based situational awareness for MOUT (1998)

– LPI COM/NAV Handset (for DARPA-1993 / used GPS PRN to enable secure comm)

– Individual Soldier Radio (ISR) (for CECOM – 1996)

– GLOMO (DARPA ITO – 1997-1999)

– Soldier Phone (DARPA – 1997-2001) / FPGA based device in PCMCIA


Projected SDA Roadmap of Enabling Technology and Functional Capabilities *

FY05 FY06 FY07

COTS radio integration w/ DAGR

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Squad positions to each user

Intra-squad short messaging of status and commands

DAGR ICD and HMI modifications

Inter-squad capability only by use of common node participant

RCI/SNL radio and protocol development

Improved position reporting accuracy

Waypoint utility extensions

Improved fields of fire estimation via networked position and waypoint sharing

DGPS broadcasting

Targeting application extensions

Networked targeting accuracy error reduction via multiple spotter sharing

Security of radio and efficiency of data transmissions dependent on COTS radio only

Voice/data security coding and layering development

Distributed GPS

Increased robustness of GPS position determination

Dead reckoning module

Increased security of operation

Chem/bio/IED sensing

Sniper algorithmsTactile interface

Improved efficiency of use via non-visual interface for navigation

Ability to use networked squad as sensor net for chem/bio/IED

or sniper detection

Full interface to upper tier tactical situational awareness / BFT network

ICD modifications for BFT interfacing

* Significantly more functional capabilities exist


Current COP (Common Operational Picture) Tactical Infrastructure – Upper Level

FBCB2/BFT Vehicular Terminal

USMC M-DACT Mobile and Vehicular Terminal

(embedded GPS and EPLRS)

MT-2011 L-band transceiver

GPRS Search/Rescue Helo/Vehicular Terminal

MTS Mobile Tracking Vehicular Terminal

Handneld or embedded PPS GPS

SINCGARS tactical data/vox radio

L band link for BFT/Position Data

GPS SATCOM C2 links for Tactical Internet and

Voice Traffic

C2 Data aggregation, command, and control

(via ABCS/ GCCS databases, BFT, MTS,

and GPRS control systems)

Overall architecture under rework into WIN

(Warfighter Information Network)

EPLRS larger bandwidth tactical data/vox radios

In theater and strategic level

command center

Voice / data link

L band data link

GPS receive link

SATCOM / SV links

• Note commonality in four major positional tracking systems used by US armed forces


Current COP (Common Operational Picture)Tactical Infrastructure – Lower Level (USA, USMC)

FBCB2/BFT Vehicular Terminal (external GPS and

SINCGARS/EPLRS)

USMC M-DACT Mobile and Vehicular Terminal

(embedded GPS and EPLRS)

Voice / data link

USMC D-DACT Dismounted Terminal Mobile (embedded SINCGARS/EPLRS and GPS; non-networked voice com to

SL)

USA CDA (Current and Land Warrior) - (embedded

L-band/BFT, SINCGARS, GPS; non-networked voice com to SL)

PLATOON LEADER (PL) /

SQUAD LEADER (SL)

COMPANY COMMANDER /

PLATOON LEADER

SQUAD LEADERS (SL)

INDIVIDUAL SOLDIERS

Individual non-networked voice radios and handheld

GPS (on occasion)

To Upper Level tactical network and voice communications

Individual non-networked voice radios (on occasion),

no GPS

No individual BFT or use of

positioning data; voice-only status and control;

no dissemination of upper level

data


Current COP (Common Operational Picture)Tactical Infrastructure

• Both voice and data channels in existing infrastructures exhibit a “necked-down” bandwidth and availability model

– Command structure dictates availability and control of voice/data access – Number of “upper level”-capable radios less as one goes lower

• Number of “lower level” radios desired more– Bandwidth is lessened at the “lower level” tiers, power (thus range) is lessened,

digitization and security typically less of concern due to short time value of information

Company +

Platoon

Squad

Soldier

Sensor

Command structure

Quantity allocation

Decreasing bandwidth and capability

+

Increasing need for individual

positioning, close-range,

secure comms

“Lower level” short range

voice-primary radios

“Upper level” longer range

voice and data radios and

tactical network

infrastructure

Area of opportunity for short range voice + networked data radios with GPS positioning in small package

Additional opportunity to “broaden the neck” and increase bandwidth

at lower radio levels

Documents

Soldier’s Digital Assistant (SDA)