Defense Modeling and SimulationEducation and Research

Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)

U.S. Navy’s University http://www.nps.edu

Numerous curricula, most sciences & engineering• 2-year masters degrees with thesis• Ph.D. research

Joint, allied and civil-service students, faculty• USN, USMC, USA, USAF USCG: ~1400• International officers: ~300• Faculty ~300

Research efforts significant• Est. FY2005 reimbursables: $110M

theory = conceptual description of reality

experiment = test theory in physical world

Scientific method, 15th-20th centuries

ExperimentTheory Analysis

model = formal representation of reality

simulation = behavior of model over time

Scientific method, 1950-present

ExperimentTheory Analysis

SimulationModel

implements a corresponds to an

model = formal representation of reality

simulation = behavior of model over time

Scientific method, 1950-present

ExperimentTheory Analysis

Modeling&

Simulation

running together

Virtual environments can connect all models and simulations together

Scientific method, emerging 21st century

ExperimentTheory Analysis

Modeling &

Simulation

Virtual Environments linked together via

networking interfaces, shared semantics

“If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have asked for a faster horse.”

-- Henry Ford

“A hiatus exists between inventors who know what they could invent, if they only knew what was wanted, and the soldiers who know, or ought to know, what they want, and would ask for it if they only knew how much science could do for them. You have never really bridged that gap yet.”

-- Winston Churchill, The Great War

Our mission is to bridge this gap.

We combine warfighting expertise with technical expertise towards relevant, cost effective, sustainable solutions.

Analytical

Industrial

Tactical Technical

Conduct experiments, analyze data, evaluate systems and

processes

Invent new systems and procedures, integrate parts into

new systems

Produce systems for use, harden, debug, maintain --

acquisition process

Subject matter expertise, warfighting specialty practice,

understanding of problems and constraints

Modeling & Simulation professionals who build tools (new capabilities) for acquisition, analysis, training, test,

evaluation, and planning

Acquisition, Analysis, Training, Test, Evaluation, and Planning professionals who know how to use Modeling & Simulation tools

Business & Public PolicySystem Engineering

Human Systems IntegrationMathematics

Electrical & Computer EngrMechanical & Astro Engr

PhysicsMeteorology & Oceanography

Space SystemsNational Security Affairs

Defense AnalysisOperations Research

Computer ScienceInformation Science

Homeland Defense & Security

Modeling & Simulation (MOVES)

Conduct research and development in the discipline of modeling and simulation towards increased capabilities for …

… all these disciplines which use modeling and simulation tools as one (among many) technique for problem solving.

The Defense M&S Workforce needs both!

Our history

• MOVES began in March, 1996 with the MS degree program

• The PhD program was approved in March, 1999

• Originally intended to be mix of Computer Science and Operations Analysis

• MOVES has now evolved to become its own field.

• Became an Institute in 2001

Who are our students?

• the Navy’s subspecialty in modeling and simulation (6202 P-code),

• the Marine Corps’ modeling and simulation subspecialty (MOS 9625),

• the US Army’s Simulation Operations functional area (FA-57), and

• MOVES supports the International M&S community (Turkey, Greece, Singapore, Germany, Tunisia, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, ...)

The MOVES Academic Program

Year 1 (Core M&S)Probability & StatisticsProgrammingProgram Management &

AcquisitionDiscrete Event SimulationCombat Modeling &

Probability ModelsSimulation & TrainingArtificial Intelligence

Year 2 (Specialization*)Combat ModelingVisual SimulationWeb-Based SimulationAgents & Cognitive ModelingTraining SystemsHuman FactorsSystem Engineering &

AcquisitionDiscrete Event Modeling &

AnalysisOptimization

*Students select three from this list.

Core Competencies

Human Systems and Training• Training system design and human factors• Human performance evaluation

Cognitive Agents and Adaptive Systems• Learning agents in rich environments• Predictive agents

Computer Gaming & Visual Simulation• Methods for game-based training design• Highly cost efficient software and simulation

development

Web-Based Simulation• Web standards for simulation and interoperability

Human Systems and Training

• Field studies in training effectiveness and measurement

• Motion-platform utility and requirements

• Distributed training• Game-based training

methods• Training system design and

deployment methods• Large-scale adoption issues Tony Ciavarelli

Mike McCauleyNita Miller

Amela SadagicBill Becker

Cognitive Agents and Adaptive Systems

Objectives:• Software agents that can be built by human

training• AI infrastructure for the open source Delta3D

game/sim engine

Approach:• Agents quickly learn the obvious features of

the environment• Agents use their ability to predict what

happens next in order to choose the most beneficial course of action

Chris DarkenJohn Hiles

Computer Gaming and Visual Simulation

• Developed the Delta3D open source game engine

• Vastly reduced the cost of visual sims, no licensing fees

• Integrated with other tools and combat models

Perry McDowellMathias Kölsch

Rudy DarkenJoe Sullivan

Augmented Reality & Computer Vision

Mathias KölschDon McGregor

Joe Sullivan

• State-of-the-art graphics• Seamless integration with virtual and

augmented environments• Vision-based interfaces• Image understanding

Web-Based Simulation

• 3D Visualizations using ISO Standard Open Source authoring and rendering tools

• Statistical Analysis on High Performance Computing (HPC) assets

• Cross-platform data interchange• Distributed interaction and

collaboration

Don BrutzmanCurt Blais

Don McGregorJeff Weekley

Mike Bailey Terry

Norbraten

Points of Contact

Rudy DarkenInstitute Directordarken@nps.edu(831) 656-7588

Mathias KölschAcademic Curriculum

Chairkolsch@nps.edu(831) 656-3402

CDR Joe SullivanProgram Officer

jasullivan@nps.edu (831) 656-7582

Research Programs

Academic Programs

Academic Sponsor LiaisonStudent POC