Simulated Operational Communications and Coordination Integration for Aircrew Learning (SOCIAL)

RPA (Remotely Piloted Air Vehicles) operators participate in the ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) task, along with a large distributed network of individuals. ISR, the main function of the RPA, requires team-level competencies of communication and coordination. It is important that the right information get to the right person at the right time for mission success, and therefore communication and coordination is a critical part of RPA operations. However, these competencies tend to be overlooked in formal training. Communication typically occurs through mIRC chat windows. Multiple conversations occur simultaneously. Simultaneous monitoring of multiple chat windows creates a potential for high workload, and the resulting asynchronous communication impacts coordination. Coordination breakdowns can result in loss of a high-valued target or failure to detect an impending threat. Therefore, effective RPA training requires multiple entities interacting in a complex, time sensitive scenario. We have developed a prototype adaptive training communication environment, using our T-BORG simulation and integration framework, to incorporate new and pre-existing intelligent agents and synthetic teammates at various levels of fidelity. The system incorporates an IRC server so that teammates can interact in a training exercise. It collects trainee and team performance metrics for both adaptive control of communications and post-exercise critique and evaluation.