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Optimized Management of Networked Sensors in the Presence of Communication,…

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Missile Defense Agency 		Award ID:
69543 		Program Year/Program:
2004 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
B041-023-1129 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
ALPHATECH, INC.
6 New England Executive Park Burlington, MA 01803
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Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2004
Title: Optimized Management of Networked Sensors in the Presence of Communication, Collection, and Processing Latencies
Agency / Branch: DOD / MDA
Contract: N00178-04-C-3084
Award Amount: $100,000.00
 

Abstract:

We propose to develop algorithms to manage multiple networked sensors embedded in a system with significant latencies. Sources of latency can include limited bandwidth in communication channels; limited capabilities for processing collected data, especially imagery; and data collection times. Latencies must be accounted for by the sensor manager so that it can appropriately hedge. By using sensors with shorter latencies to cue sensors with longer latencies, the sensor resources required per target can be reduced. To model sensor latencies and other characteristics, we propose to use Bayesian networks. This modeling framework is already being used by the Missile Defense Agency on other programs and provides a principled means for modeling systems. Until recently, performing calculations with such a network model has been impeded by the lack of computationally efficient algorithms, especially in the case of continuous states. Lately, a number of exact and approximate algorithms have been developed for efficiently performing calculations with such a model. We propose to incorporate them into our sensor management algorithms. Specifically, we propose to work within the framework of approximate dynamic programming to develop a sensor manager that uses advanced Bayesian net inferencing algorithms to evaluate expected rewards resulting from a sensor policy.

Principal Investigator:

Michael K. Schneider
Senior Engineer
7812733388
michael.schneider@alphatech.com

Business Contact:

John Barry
Contracts Manager
7812733388
jack.barry@alphatech.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

ALPHATECH, INC.
6 New England Executive Park Burlington, MA 01803

EIN/Tax ID: 042654515
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No