A Workstation Implementation of Automated Tactical Navigation

Richard V. Denton, Nickolas J. Pekelsma

Abstract:	An innovative route finding method has been developed which enables low altitude aircraft or ground vehicle path planning across potentially hostile terrain. Routes are generated with the support of artificial intelligence techniques. A color display of the route provides for a top-down view of the route, terrain, and any threat or waypoint characteristics. The applicability of the concept has been demonstrated through analysis of realistic scenarios and generation of representative miss ion plan displays for both airborne and ground-based vehicles. Route selection criteria include tradeoffs among transit speeds, threat laydown including terrain masking effects, and intervisibility effects when threat locations are highly uncertain. In low level aircraft applications, the mission planner includes pro visions for following a commanded path as well as deriving a new optimized route. Plots are generated illustrating the terrain elevation profile, aircraft exposures to threats, etc. This paper explains the pertinent concepts to automatic path planning and display generation. The engineering feasibility of this technique is discussed with emphasis on providing extremely rapid feedback. to the user of the system. A discussion is also included of how this tool might be used in various applications.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1987 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 20 - 23, 1987 Anaheim, CA
Pages:	150 - 154
Cite this article:	Denton, Richard V., Pekelsma, Nickolas J., "A Workstation Implementation of Automated Tactical Navigation," Proceedings of the 1987 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 1987, pp. 150-154.
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