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Consequences for Command and Control of Semi-Autonomous Systems for Mechanized Warfare

Per-Anders Oskarsson

Peter Svenmarck

Anna Pestrea

Alexander Melbi

Swedish Defence Research Agency

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Introduction

  • Unmanned and semi-autonomous UxV
    • Military applications
      • Increased development
      • New capabilities
    • C2 questions
      • Level of command
      • Autonomous capabilities
      • Tasks
      • Effects on operational capability

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Introduction

  • Studies of semi-autonomous units
    • Explorative interviews
    • Simulator studies
      • Interaction by voice command
      • Focus on interaction
  • Challenges for studies
      • Systems not deployed or conceptual
      • Participation of relevant military personnel
  • Solution
    • Wargaming with officers

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Board game - UNIKASS

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Board game - UNIKASS

UAV – 6 tiles

UGV – 2 tiles

UCGV – 4 tiles

IFV – 4 tiles

Squad – 2 tiles

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4 Workshops

  • WS1 – Platoon level
  • WS2 – Company level
  • WS3 – Level of autonomy
  • WS4 – Heavy UCGV

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Objective

  • Compare levels of autonomy (WS3)
  • Investigate use of Heavy UCGV (WS4)
  • Integrated results from all four WS:
    • Capabilities and tasks
    • Challenges
    • Level of command
    • Autonomous functions
    • Mechanized warfare

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General Procedure Workshops

Game one

  • Planning of strategi
  • Playing game one
  • After Action Review

Game two

  • Planning of strategi
  • Playing game two
  • After Action Review
  • Summary discussion

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Participants

  • 3-7 officers from the Swedish Land Warfare Centre (LWC)
  • 4-5 Researchers from FOI

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WS3 – Level of Autonomy

  • Current level (game 1)
    • Moving to position
    • Searching area
    • Fire on command

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  • Future level (game 2)
    • Moving in different terrain
    • Searching relative company’s pos.
    • Moving on path undetected
    • Execute previous commands

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Results WS3 – Level of Autonomy

  • Small differences
  • Questioned UGV’s positioning
  • Target prioritizing
  • Autonomous targeting ≈ Loitering munition
  • Difficult to predict effects of C2
  • Need to support present combat technique and tactics

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WS 4 – Heavy UCGV

  • Game 1. Delay battle

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WS 4 – Heavy UCGV

Game 2. Counter attack

  • Game 2. Counter attack

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Results WS4 – Heavy UCGV

  • Usable for most tasks performed by IFV
  • Take larger risk
  • Platoon – Same type of command
  • Inferior detection
  • Wingman
  • Independent tasks

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Summary - Capabilities and tasks

  • Complementary capabilities
  • Small unarmed UAV
    • Reconnaissance
      • Fast speed, Free view
  • Medium size UGV
    • Fixed position – Surveillance and defence
      • Low speed and off-road capacity, limited ammo
  • Heavy UCGV
    • Most IFV tasks
      • Similar speed, weapons, armour, ammo

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Summary – Challenges

  • UGV and UCGV
    • Detecting enemies
    • Detecting objects in terrain
    • Repair of damages
    • Other speed and off-road capacity
      • Separate terrain analysis

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Summary – Level of command

  • Platoon?
    • Commander heavily loaded
  • Company?
    • Commander heavily loaded
    • UxV command vehicle
      • Just another platoon?
  • Battalion?
    • Commander heavily loaded
    • Logistics, maintenance

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    • Orders as to other platoon commanders
    • High level, details handled by operator

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Summary – Semi-Autonomous functions

  • Precondition for efficient use
  • Decreased load on operator
  • Suggested functions
    • Navigation
    • Searching along path
    • Target detection, recognition, and engagement
    • Transmission of pos. from UAV to UGV
  • Unknowns
    • Needed capabilities
    • Semi-autonomous functions
    • Task allocation
    • Allocation of decision rights
    • Dissemination of information

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Summary – Mechanized warfare

  • Small UAVs
    • Fast
    • Reconnaissance
  • UGV
    • Slow
    • Stationary tasks (defence)
  • UCGV
    • Similar to IFV
    • Both attack and defence
  • UGV and UCGV
    • Long durability
    • No crew

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    • Increased SA
    • Decreased human causalities
    • Increased fire power
    • Size!

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Final Conclusion

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    • The board game
      • Adaptable
      • Simple and efficient
        • Cooperation in tactical situation
        • Imagine real work with conceptual system
        • Elicitation of information

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