DARPA
CoAX – Coalition TIE
Technology Integration Experiment
TTCP Meeting - Malvern - September 2000
AFRL Rome, AIAI, Boeing, Dartmouth, DERA Malvern, Lockheed
Martin ATL, Michigan, MIT Sloan, Stanford, USC/ISI, UWF/IHMC
Support from BBN, GITI, ISX, MITRE, Schafer
Coalition Agents eXperiment (CoAX)
http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/project/coax/
Briefing Outline
CoAX
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CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 2
Aims and Scenario
CoAX Components
Demonstrations
TTCP Demonstration
Next Steps
Summary
CoAX
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Increasing military requirements for coalition
operations
Belief that agent computational model is a good fit
to meet coalition interoperability requirements
US and UK Agent Research Programmes
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Context
US DARPA Control of Agent Based Systems (CoABS)
UK DERA Agents Project
Need for “middleware” such as is provided by
CoABS Grid Infrastructure
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 3
CoAX
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Aim is to address unique aspects of coalition
operations through the development and evaluation
of agent domain and task management services
Aim will be met through delivery of:
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Aim of Coalition TIE
Phased technical demonstrations of increasing
complexity
Development of generic Coalition-oriented grid
services
Requirements:
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Use of a wide variety of different agent systems
Use of existing military (non-agent) applications
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 4
Key Coalition Drivers
CoAX
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Different cultures, doctrines, and languages:
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Incompatibility of respective national information
systems:
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Different doctrine, decision making, rules of engagement and,
in general, mission “agendas”
Command authorities - agreement and transfers
Different interpretation of situational information
Different technology skill and equipment levels
Lack of information systems resource sharing agreements
Variable reliability of components and infrastructures
Lack of compatible security architectures
Need for rapid configuration and reconfiguration by personnel
with limited training
Limited models for coalition force operations
Derived from LeRoy Pearce (Canadian MOD), 1999
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 5
CoAX
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Key Technical Drivers
Cannot assume interoperability, reliability or
availability of different nations systems
Need for partial (secure) sharing and
visualization of processes, data and facilities
Need to work with agents in multiple dynamically
determined domains
Need for flexible inter-agent task and process
management
Need for rapid formation, management and
change of agent relationships
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 6
CoAX
Binni - Gateway to the
Golden Bowl of Africa
Rathmell, R.A. (1999) A Coalition Force Scenario 'Binni - Gateway to the Golden Bowl of Africa', in
Proceedings of the International Workshop on Knowledge-Based Planning for Coalition Forces,
(ed. Tate, A.) pp. 115-125, Edinburgh, Scotland, 10th-11th May 1999.
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 7
KEY
175 Heights (metres)
Railways
Tarmac roads
BANDAR
Population centres
×
Military airfields
Gravel roads
Brongo
Ports
Q
Civilian Airfields
Tracks
LAYERS:
Setting
Grandville
Antok
Kaso
To Cunmege
GAO
Geography
Cape
Amstado
Kaso
Lagoon
Transport
Dado
Anala
Libar
Biloo
Minga
GambaQ
Bave CACA
Kolla876
Hakkali REGION
Laval
Zatu
Water
Dinga
Higgville
Q
Masembi
Q
527
Daka
Brongo
× Q
Asoba
CACA REGION
Blackman
Tonka
EASTERN REGION
268
Gambaga
Names
Nanga
Esuko Laponga
SIKASSO
Caca Dam
BANDAR
REGION
788
Bonrope
775
Jinja
Kamongo
Sagiba
Lat / Long
BANDAR
Wonka
Zaribe
×
Q
UGWULU
Adaido
175
NORTHERN REGION
Aida
Achobo
Gonobo
Grandvache
Zingato
Kwanabouri
123
Saltpond
ASHANTI REGION
Libretto
613
Nedalla
Epidurango
CENTRAL REGION
707
Diplombo
Elmina
Komenda
×
AGADEZ
482
Jamestown
LAKI
St Andrews
Pra
Donga
Sandosta
DEL
Q COSTA
MARIA
×
Polia
Slafito
390
Kingtown
UPPER REGION
436
Lissa
×
588
Langford
Bisha
Sagotown
752
Sellerham
Wazilla
WESTERN REGION
Wampimba
Akimbo
542
Binni - All Features
Anguiba
Kutchi
Deanville
613
Bisa
To Petit Paris
AGADEZ
Cape
Vincent
Sonara
Suthertown
Salisbury
Belucar
Slabo
Return
Forces separated by firestorm
Kaso
Lagoon
Cape
Amstado
Daka
Gao
forces
Pra
Agadez
forces
Firestorm
Cape
Vincent
Gao deception is intended to displace firestorm:
separation fails.
Kaso
Lagoon
Cape
Amstado
Daka
Gao
forces
False
Gao
forces
Pra
Agadez
forces
Firestorm
False Agadez
forces
Cape
Vincent
Briefing Outline
CoAX
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Aims and Scenario
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CoAX Components
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CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 11
Demonstrations
TTCP Demonstration
Next Steps
Summary
CoAX Components
CoAX
Agent Frameworks
KAoS Agents (Boeing, IHMC)
D’Agents (Dartmouth)
EMAA/CAST Agents (LM ATL)
Agents on the Grid
AODB Agent (LM ATL)
Observer Agents (Dartmouth)
Malicious Agents (IHMC, Boeing)
Web Weather Agent (USC/ISI)
…
LAN
Grid
LAN
DARPA
CoABS Grid
(GITI, ISX)
LAN
Military Systems
CAMPS (AFRL,GITI, BBN)
MBP (DERA)
…
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 12
Agent Grid Services
Task and Process Management (AIAI)
Domain Management Services (Boeing, IHMC)
Plan Deconfliction (Michigan)
Exception Handling (MIT)
Incentive Management (Stanford)
Briefing Outline
CoAX
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Aims and Scenario
CoAX Components
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Demonstrations
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CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 13
TTCP Demonstration
Next Steps
Summary
Demonstration Schedule
CoAX
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1-month demo at kick-off in February 2000 showing direct
connection between DERA MBP and LM-ATL AODB
6-month integration milestone in July 2000 showing initial
integration of selected CoAX components for 9-month demo
9-month demo in October 2000:
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18-month demo in July 2001 showing full integration of all
CoAX components in a rich coalition scenario:
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Brief the CoAX TIE and Binni scenario
Show full integration of selected CoAX components
Show that selected components interoperate in a Binni-based
scenario
Tell a relevant 'story‘ about agents for information gathering
Additional stand-alone demos of other components
Expanding scope to cover planning and execution
30-month demo in July 2002 showing dynamic aspects of
domain management and tasking
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 14
CoAX
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Month 1 - Initial Demo
Demonstration involves AFRL Rome, DERA Malvern and LM
ATL and is a first (risk reduction) step toward CoAX
Demo shows legacy applications can be usefully integrated
into an agent framework
Master Battle Planner v2.1
(DERA, UK)
LAN
Grid
LAN
EMAA / CAST
Agents
(LM ATL, US)
LAN
CoABS Grid
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 15
AODB
CoAX
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6-Month (July 2000)
Milestone Report
Eleven agents in three separate agent domains
representing coalition functional units (JTF HQ, JFAC
HQ, Gao Intel)
Binni scenario information used to drive storyboard
Tasking and control across coalition functional units
Visualization of coalition C2 process via a simple
process model
Simple policy administration tool for selective
information sharing and communication blocking
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 16
6-Month (July 2000)
Milestone Structure
CoAX
Gao Intel
Dbii
DM2
Intel2
Dbi
JFAC HQ
Intel1
MM2
JTF HQ
MBP
PP'
MM3
DM3
MM1
DM1
LM-ATL
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 17
AODB
Domain-aware
conversational
grid agents
Non-domain-aware
message-based grid agents
CoAX
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Focus on information-gathering phase
First interoperation of agent-wrapped legacy US and UK systems
New agents and domains
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Three additional agent domains (6 domains and ~25 agents)
Incorporation of domain-aware CAMPS airlift planning system
Ariadne agent providing publicly available weather information
More powerful Process Panel
New domain management functionality
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9-Month (October 2000)
Demonstration Plan
Malicious observer agent thwarted by domain management and
NOMADS resource control mechanisms
KAoS Policy Administration Tool (KPAT) administering
communication, registration, and resource policies
New stand-alone demonstrations:
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MIT exception handling
Stanford incentive management
U. Michigan plan deconfliction
Dartmouth ‘observer agents’
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 18
CoAX
9-Month (October 2000)
Demonstration Structure
Gao Intel
Dbii
DM2
Intel2
Dbi
JTF HQ
JFAC HQ
US
DM4 MM4
AL Plan
AODB
Weather
Viz
MM1
AODB
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 19
CAMPS
PP'
MBP
Intel1
DM1
LM-ATL
MM2
Ariadne
MM3
DM3
Observers
(Intel)
MM5
DGO
DM5
DAO
Gao Obs.
GAO
MM6
DM6
ALDB
Weather
Sub-domain of “Observers”
Briefing Outline
CoAX
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Aims and Scenario
CoAX Components
Demonstrations
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TTCP Demonstration
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CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 20
Next Steps
Summary
Briefing Outline
CoAX
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Aims and Scenario
CoAX Components
Demonstrations
TTCP Demonstration
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Next Steps
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Summary
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CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 21
CoAX
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More realism in coalition structures
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All CoAX members integrated (9 domains and ~35 agents)
Coalition agents playing multiple roles in different domains
New policies add additional robustness and security
Added functionality in process and task management
Increased scope of Binni scenario demonstration
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18-Month (July 2001)
Demonstration Plan
Richer information gathering phase
Planning and execution phases of Binni added in
Incorporating coalition functionality becomes easier
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Packaging capabilities as pluggable grid services
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 22
18-Month (July 2000)
Demo Structure Observers
Dbiii
UK
CoAX
Intel3
Shared
MM7
Intel1a
DM7
ALDB
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 23
Gao Obs.
DM6
MM2
Intel2
IM
EH
Plan Dec.
PP
JTF HQ
Weather
DAO
GAO
MM1 DM1 MBP
Intel1
AODB
(Intel)
DGO
MM6
JFAC HQ
US
LM-ATL CAMPS
DM5
DM8 MM8
Dbi
DM4 MM4
AL Plan
AODB
MM5
DM2
Gao Intel
MM3
Dbii
DM3
Ariadne
Met.
MM9
Weather
Viz
DM9
CoAX
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Dynamic “come as you are” coalition formation
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30-Month (July 2002)
Demonstration Plan
Dynamic creation of ‘virtual coalition organisation’
Agents and domains added to coalition structure ‘on-the-fly’
Dynamic coalition tasks and processes
Tailored visualizations
High-level tools usable without specialized training
Generic task, process, and domain management
tools
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 24
Briefing Outline
CoAX
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Aims and Scenario
CoAX Components
Demonstrations
TTCP Demonstration
Next Steps
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Summary
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CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 25
CoAX
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1-month and 6-month demo milestones successfully
completed
Preview of progress on 9-month demonstration at Malvern
TTCP meeting
100+ page ‘living document’ describing CoAX contributions
and Binni ‘FLASH’ scenario delivered
Ongoing work with GITI on design for packaging of agent
domain and process management services for the grid
9-month demonstration ready in October 2000
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Status and
Next Steps
Integrated demonstration
Stand-alone demonstrations
Links to Joint Battlespace Infosphere, Joint Battlespace
Digitisation
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 26
CoAX
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Summary
Coalition operations is a matter of high concern
for the military and a great proving ground for
agent research
Binni provides mature rich source of realistic
scenario data
Actual military tools used in true cross-national
collaboration—hope to expand to additional
nations in the future
Sixteen partners cooperating in phased technical
integration demonstrators
CoABS Grid provided necessary interoperability
Significant new research issues being addressed
of both theoretical and practical significance
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 27
Further Information and
Involvement
CoAX
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CoAX and Binni documentation available
See http://www.aiai.ed.ac.uk/project/coax/
We encourage your participation…
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In addressing key coalition and technical drivers
In seeking operational opportunities
In future demonstrations
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 28
CoAX
CoAX/TTCP Briefing - 29
The End