ARMY AL&T
preserving the meaning of those data. Data mediation involves mapping data between existing, incompatible data formats, allowing multiple software systems to share information.
The result is SMART, a solution that allows systems to share more informa- tion faster, enhancing collaboration, deconfliction, and integration.
Adapting to Existing Systems Rather than forcing different systems and users to abide by a single, one-size- fits-all “language,” SMART is flexible. It enables the solution to be introduced without additional requirements for training and day-to-day operations.
“SMART does the ‘hard work’ by bridging all those non-interoperable data schemas and services and does not force any changes on the existing sys- tems or users,” Szymanski said. “Early interaction with warfighters improved the technology design, so there are few to no changes to the user experience when SMART is introduced.”
The SMART approach is to build upon successful past mediation solutions, including Data Mediation Service, Data Dissemination Service, Publish and Subscribe Service, and others, to tie them together into an overarching, enterprise-oriented interoperability framework, said Matthew Wilson, Director of Business Development for Future Skies Inc., who is supporting the project.
Unlike current data translation meth- ods, SMART is extremely scalable to existing and future systems. It was specifically designed to allow for rapid introduction of new connectors to enable new systems to come online and share information with legacy systems.
Putting SMART to the Test The need for mediation solutions is not limited to Army systems, but also relates to managing data from joint,
46 APRIL –JUNE 2011
SMART brings the potential to facilitate transparent coalition interoperability between native systems without requiring modifications to those systems.
interagency, and multinational systems. The ability of the SMART architec- ture to support multiple domains will be demonstrated through an upcoming exercise that aims to provide a clearer picture of the airspace to joint forces and coalition nations, said Goldin, the project’s technical lead.
The exercise will show how SMART can unite information from different systems, officials said.
“SMART brings the potential to facilitate transparent coalition interop- erability between native systems without requiring modifications to those systems,” said Goldin. “By improving interoperability and auto- mation among functional boundaries, services, and nations, better decisions in airspace management and utilization can be realized, hopefully reducing the burdens on the warfighter and improv- ing the outcomes of missions.”
“What SMART does not do is remove the human from the process. There is, and should always be, a human in the loop to verify the final product,” Szymanski said. “The end result is a significant reduction in the amount of time required to obtain, process, analyze, and transmit information.”
SMART is one of the technologies and capabilities under development as part of the Collaborative Battlespace Reasoning and Awareness Army Technology Objective (COBRA ATO), which seeks to improve collaboration and interoperability within all levels of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Also part of
the COBRA ATO are Command and Control Multitouch Enabled Technology, which uses touch- and gesture-based technology to improve warfighter collaboration, and customized battlefield applications for hand-held devices. The COBRA ATO also conducts research and development in support of Battle Command Web, a Web-based collaboration tool developed by Product Manager Strategic Battle Command within Program Executive Office Command, Control, and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T). Battle Command Web is expected to reduce the hardware footprint to increase sustainability and efficiency.
This year, SMART is scheduled to be fielded with an operational unit, the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, for the first time, and the technology is being transitioned to Product Director Common Software (PD CS). PD CS is assigned to Project Manager Battle Command, part of PEO C3T.
“SMART can be applied to the infor- mation needs of multiple communities, from airspace deconfliction to the mili- tary medical community,” said Michael Anthony, Chief of the Mission Command Division for CERDEC C2D. “SMART enables interoperability today.”
CLAIRE HEININGER is a staff writer for Symbolic Systems Inc. supporting the Army’s PEO C3T MilTech Solutions Office. She holds a B.A. in American studies and a minor in jour- nalism, ethics, and democracy from the University of Notre Dame.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
