Hybrid Team Training Testbed for Awacs Aircraft Controllers

Simulation-based team training has become an important component of preparation and readiness for a variety of military teams. However, despite extensive resource allocation to simulation-based training environments, and to computer generated forces that can act in those environments, there is relatively little research on how synthetic entities can best be designed and used to achieve team training objectives. In this paper, we outline the development of a research program that seeks to define principles of effective team training with synthetic entities. We describe our domain of application (Air Force AWACS Weapons Directors and the pilots they control), team training objectives, the components and capabilities of the simulation, and our plan for using the simulation to evaluate the effectiveness of hybrid team training. Ultimately, this work will result in a series of principles of effective team training with agents that can facilitate the development of hybrid training environments.