Dynamic allocation of fires and sensors

Abstract

The U.S. Army is undergoing significant changes in its force structure and implementation doctrine. This thesis evaluates factors associated with networking assets in a future battle space incorporating Future Combat Systems. An analysis framework was developed designed to assist the Army in current and future evaluation of networked assets and potential configurations of Future Combat Systems at the Unit of Action (UA) and Entity levels. The framework consists of a Discrete Event Simulation Model, Extensible Mark-up Language (XML) input and output modules, and an output analysis package. The simulation model receives scenario inputs from XML files. During the simulation run, the model intermittently calls an optimization package that solves a multi-dimensional knapsack problem to allocate assets based on the current conditions. Once the simulation is complete the model generates XML output that is subsequently processed by an analysis package. The model goes beyond normal implementations of both simulation and optimization by incorporating both simultaneously. The result is an increased level of analysis quality due to the consideration of both stochastic factors and optimization techniques and an analysis architecture that will serve the Army as a basis for the exploration of factors associated with networking assets and system configurations.