Distributed and disposable sensors at ARL and the ASCTA

ARL in conjunction with the Advanced Sensors Collaborative Technology Alliance (ASCTA) has embarked on a research program to develop technology that enables distributed unattended ground sensors (UGS) to form ad hoc networks which are inexpensive and able to operate for months at a time on a single battery. These networks cooperatively process multi-modal sensor data to achieve multi-target detection, classification and tracking (DCT) of vehicles and people. To best accomplish this goal, a modular, scalable, and robust decentralized fusion architecture capable of operating under constrained bandwidth conditions is being developed that performs data, feature, and information level fusion across all levels of the system hierarchy. Algorithms are developed to autonomously allocate resources to optimize system performance; these include self-calibration and localization, target handoff, sensor cueing, power management, and overall improvement in performance of DCT. This allows for rapid deployment of UGS fields that provide information about large unoccupied areas. Finally system modeling and simulation help optimize overall network performance, cost, operating life and bandwidth usage. This identifies required sensor modalities and areas where sensor improvements are necessary. In those areas where significant processing load is anticipated, tools are developed to exploit power/energy techniques for efficiently implementing complex algorithms. Additionally, in 2003, the Secretary of the Army/Acquisition, Logistics and Technology challenged the army science and technology community to: (1) develop S10 disposable sensors; and (2) to make them applicable to our fighting forces. The ASCTA has embraced this goal and has enhanced our program to have a major impact in this endeavor. Progress, challenges, and requirements are reported in some of these areas and new research opportunities are identified.