Award

Situation/threat modeling and threat prediction require higher levels of data fusion to provide actionable information to the warfighter. Beyond sensor data and sources the analyst has control over, the use of out-sourced and re-sourced data are becoming more common. However, the current data fusion techniques do not account for the potential bias, ambiguity, and uncertainty in these other sources. Furthermore, despite the perception that the fusion process is sequential, work in human situational awareness has shown otherwise; a more nested approach is required. 21st Century Systems, Inc. proposes Fusion with Uncertainty Reasoning using Nested Assessment Characterizer Elements (FURNACE). FURNACE utilizes nested fusion loops building higher levels of information fusion without losing sight of the potential weaknesses of the underlying data. FURNACE uses advanced technologies in information filtering and reasoning to provide the levels of fusion. These reduce bias, disambiguate, and fill gaps in the data. FURNACE handles uncertainty through an innovative evidential reasoning technology that provides the necessary data to the analyst, such that they can account for the pedigree of the information supplied as it is aggregated and fused. And, with our excellent commercialization record, we are the company most likely to field this capability to the warfighter.