Increasing Accuracy and Realism of Simulated Naval Tactics with Monterey Phoenix Behavior Models

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NPS-23-M176-A_NRP_ExecSum-Final_Giammarco.pdf (240.44 KB)
Authors
Giammarco, Kristin
Subjects
behavior modeling
training
Monterey Phoenix
MP
formal methods
dynamic targeting
Advisors
Date of Issue
2024-01-13
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Live training environments that develop Marine combat skills deliver real physical conditions and evoke the realistic physical and mental stresses of anticipated operational environments. Simulated environments have increasingly complemented live environments to provide a cost-effective option with on-demand availability for the rehearsal of certain physical and cognitive tasks. One long-standing technological challenge associated with the development of behaviorally accurate models for a tactical environment has been the limitation of simulation tools to exhaustively enumerate all possible decisions that Marines could make in all conceivable situations. The tactical environment creates a potentially infinite opportunity for good and bad decisions, and foreseeable and surprising consequences. Monterey Phoenix (MP) enables exhaustive generation of synthetic behavior scenarios up to a specified scope limit. Through several example test cases, this research explores how MP behavior modeling and trace generation can be used for the rehearsal of cognitive reasoning and decision making applicable to tactical scenarios in which Marines train to operate. The research project answers the question: In what ways can MP behavior models support more accurate and realistic training experiences for Marines in between live action training events? The case studies demonstrate that MP provides the Marine Corps a new and unique canvas for exploring and learning from decision making in a synthetic environment by the potential to enhance existing training tools and also as a standalone tool. The recommendations from this research are as follows: • The Marine Corps should develop and test a pilot implementation of a training method to leverage the scenario variant generation of Monterey Phoenix, and • The Marine Corps should select and formalize one publication containing authoritative data on how Marines operate into standard MP behavior model libraries in a format that can be accessed by training tools to generate lessons learned and recommendations for related policy.
Type
Report
Description
NPS NRP Executive Summary
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/73600
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
HQMC Combat Development and Integration (CD&I)
Funder
This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrp
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO)
Format
5 p.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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