The Rational Behavior software architecture for intelligent ships: an approach to mission and motion control

Abstract

The solutions to the power projection, transportation, and operational needs of the Navy as it faces the 21st century must account for reduced manning levels. This leads naturally to incrreased use of computers, automation and intelligent systems in the concept and design on the next generation of ships. In addition to the acknowledged hardware needs, the problem of autonomic and autonomous control of shipboard systems and missions are amenable to and will, in fact, require software solutions. Despite current technology, large reliable software systems are difficult to achieve because correctness in requirements analysis, design implementation, testing, modification and maintenance of software are difficult. Software is also difficult to quantize and display; hence, the effort and costs involved in its development are easily underestimated. This paper describes an approach to the problem of providing structure, in the form of a software architecture, to the software performing autonomous control of missions and their related tasks. In concert with the need to reduce complexity, the architecture must support simple, rapid reconfiguration of code should vehicle capabilities or mission requirements change. Building upon recent efforts with control of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), we proposea tri-level constrol system architecture called the Rational Behavior Model (RBM) as an approach to autonomous and autonomic control of surface ship missions and systems.