VIPR - Versatile Integrated Planner and Router

Contract Number: N68335-03-C-0014

Proposal Title: Versatile Integrated Planner and Router

Abstract:

OR Concepts Applied (ORCA) will implement a software component called the Versatile Integrated Planner and Router (VIPR). VIPR has been designed to provide force level planning and sortie level routing for air vehicles with a focus on unmanned aircraft performing surveillance missions. VIPR will leverage technology from the existing ORCA Planning and Utility System (OPUS) by making use of a commercially available application programmer interface. A major innovation will be integrating VIPR with the Navy's Tactical Control Station and the PMA 263 TCS Testbed. A second innovation increases UAV autonomy by driving the VIPR component with health and status information from an aircraft Failure Management System.BENEFITS: The Versatile Integrated Planner and Router (VIPR) will benefit the Navy by providing mission planning tools for unmanned aircraft and by increasing the potential for autonomous vehicle operations. The technology embodied by VIPR includes algorithms for force level allocation of aircraft to mission objectives as well as individual sortie planning to achieve mission goals while avoiding threats. With the Navy's guidance, ORCA technology can play a role in adding to uav and other mission planning capabilities. We plan to merge our VIPR technologies with the Tactical Control Station (TCS) suite of tools and to make it part of the next generation Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) - a collaborative program of the US Air Force, Navy, Marines, and SOF. The Navy will derive capabilities with lower development risk, a shorter development cycle, and greater product sophistication per investment dollar. In the short term, VIPR will benefit a host of users, including the Department of Defense and private sector companies, concerned with using software tools that incorporate autonomous operations models. In the long term, we can envision industries in traffic engineering, forestry operations, weather monitoring, police surveillance, and maritime patrol, also benefiting.