EMPLOYMENT OF INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE DRONE SWARMS TO ENHANCE GROUND COMBAT OPERATIONS
Loading...
Authors
Gulosh, Nathan J.
Subjects
drones
swarms
simulation
modeling & simulation
agent-based
design of experiments
data farming
data analysis
swarms
simulation
modeling & simulation
agent-based
design of experiments
data farming
data analysis
Advisors
Lucas, Thomas W.
Date of Issue
2018-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
On August 27, 2015, the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) Advanced Robotic Systems Engineering Laboratory flew 50 autonomous drones simultaneously. This demonstration proved that autonomous drone swarm technology is evolving at a daunting pace and drone deployment and control can now be done en mass. As academia, industry, and defense sectors continue to miniaturize sensors and enhance swarm operating systems, the transition from demonstrations to tactical employment will occur quickly. Doing so efficiently requires dedicated efforts to determine swarm sensor requirements and employment tactics, techniques, and procedures. This thesis uses agent-based simulation, cutting-edge design of experiments, and parallel computing to thoroughly explore drone swarm employment in support of a Marine infantry company. The scenario is a deliberate clearing mission, based on real events, in which an infantry company fights a peer enemy in restricted terrain. Analysis of the data obtained from 30,000 simulated missions reveals that, on average, the drone swarms enable the fire support team to target and engage twice as many enemy combatants when compared to the current ISR drone available at the company level. For the hierarchical swarm, this results in up to 50% fewer U.S. casualties. Data analysis and visual study of the emergent swarm also shows that the volume of the swarm, coupled with inherent sensor overlap, results in the largest reduction in sensor requirements.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Operations Research (OR)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
CRUSER
Funder
Format
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.