JIFX 18-2 Quicklook Report

Abstract

Commencing the 15th year of NPS Field Experimentation, JIFX 18-2 hosted 18 experiments from 26 February to 2 March, at Camp Roberts, the California National Guard’s premier Maneuver Training Center. The NPS field experimentation program conducts quarterly collaborative experimentation to help the Department of Defense, other government agencies, andstate and local governments incorporate emerging technology into their operations. Over 180 researchers and developers from 77 government, private, and academic organizations participated in this cycle, which was focused on the impact of unmanned and autonomous systems on wildfire fighting operations and support. Experiments ranged from information security in diverse and ad hoc networks, to three-dimensional visualizations of operating areas, and to the use of unmanned ground and air vehicles for precisely locating hazardous material. Planning has already begun for the next experimentation cycle. JIFX 18-3 will be held 4-8 June and will focus on the use of larger (group 2 & 3) unmanned air systems to provide persistent multi-purpose support to military, disaster response, and humanitarian operations.