Command Post of the Future
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States Army's Command Post of the Future (CPOF) system is a C2 system that allows commanders to have a better understanding of the battlefield; collaborate with superiors, peers and subordinates; and clearly communicate their intent. Originally a DARPA technology demonstration, in 2006 CPOF became an Army Program of Record and is managed by PM Battle Command out of Ft. Monmouth, NJ. The prime contractor on the CPOF program is General Dynamics C4 Systems, which purchased the original developer of the software (MAYA Viz Ltd) in 2005.
Contents |
[edit] Theory
CPOF began as a DARPA investigation into how command and control could be improved using networked information visualization systems, with the goal of doubling the speed and quality of command decisions.
While CPOF is one of a large number of examples of collaborative software, it employs a unique combination of design principles that give users unusual utility. First, it based on a system in which every piece of data, including window locations, map view coordinates, unit positions, mark-ups, etc., is stored in a network-shared database. Referred to as "deep collaboration", this always-on shared data capability allows collaborators to "mirror" each other's work products for briefings or to monitor situations, and removes from the user the burden to set up explicit collaboration on any piece of data. Secondly, "data liquidity" allows any piece of data in the system to be dragged between any appropriate visualizations, even while the data is being updated live by another site. So instead of statically pre-generated charts and slides, briefings can be given on live data and moving maps can be drilled into for deeper understanding. Finally, "composability" allows each user to assemble their own workspace out of smaller work products. This capability, something like "ActiveX on steroids", allows each user to organize and group their information in the way that allows them to gain the fastest and deepest understanding of it quickly.
The foundation for the CPOF software is a platform called CoMotion, a proprietary framework for building fully collaborative information visualization and "decision community" systems. With its origins as a research program at Carnegie Mellon University led by the late Steven Roth and subsequently developed by MAYA Viz Ltd and General Dynamics C4 Systems, CoMotion was chosen as the basis for CPOF by DARPA.
[edit] Operational Details
CPOF can receive real-time or near-real-time data from a variety of standard sources-- such as GCCS-A, C2PC, and ABCS-- and display them using MIL-STD-2525B symbols on maps and charts. Plans, schedules, notes, briefings, and other battle-related information can be composed and shared between warfighters. All maps, charts, pasteboards, and other work products can be marked up with permanent and/or fading ink, and annotated with text or "stickies" to provide further context. A VOIP solution is included, although it can integrate with a pre-existing voice solution.
Fault tolerance for low bandwidth, high latency, and/or error-prone TCP/IP networks are supported by CPOF's multi-tiered client-server architecture. It can thus be deployed on everything from a two-hop geosynchronous satellite link to a radio network such as JNN and remain collaborative. It is deployed on a Microsoft Windows platform.
[edit] Deployment
CPOF was first deployed operationally in a handful of locations within Baghdad, Iraq by the First Cavalry Division of the US Army in 2004, and is now deployed at over 500 workstations throughout Iraq. Variants of CPOF have participated in United States Joint Forces Command's Urban Resolve 2015, the United States Air Force's Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 06 (and will participate in 08), and is being investigated by the Marines for use in their Combat Operations Centers.
CPOF became an official US Army program of record in 2006.
[edit] External Links
- US Army PM Battle Command -- CPOF
- General Dynamics C4 Systems Command Post of the Future (CPOF)
- Steven Roth's research at Carnegie Mellon University
