Dynamo: A Tool for Modeling Integrated Air Defense Systems

A continuing challenge for multisensor data fusion systems is the problem of estimating the accuracy or performance of the system. This is especially difficult for dynamic adaptable systems such as modern integrated air defense systems (IADS). These systems utilize multiple sensors (e.g., radar, identification-friend-foe (IFF) systems) to observe airborne targets to develop accurate tracks and to identify the observed targets. Modern IADS have the capability to dynamically reconfigure themselves to account for fault conditions such as the failure of individual sensors or communications links. As a result it is difficult to compute the accuracy of the IADS in situations in which there is dynamic reconfiguration. This paper describes a software system implemented to model IADS. The system, called Dynamo, accurately models the communications links and routing for integrated air defense systems. Dynamo accounts for sensor performance, effects of terrain, and dynamic reconfiguration of the IADS to fault conditions. Near term efforts will focus on modeling the target tracking and identification processes. Planned future capabilities include the ability to account communications delays, data formats, and associated data processing.
See Also AD-M201 258, 2000 MSS Proceedings on CD-ROM, January 2001. The original document contains color images. Prepared in collaboration with Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Dahlgren, VA.