Accession Number:

ADA566864

Title:

Defense Science Board Task Force Report: The Role of Autonomy in DoD Systems

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

2012-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

126.0

Abstract:

Unmanned systems are proving to have a significant impact on warfare worldwide. The true value of these systems is not to provide a direct human replacement, but rather to extend and complement human capability in a number of ways. These systems extend human reach by providing potentially unlimited persistent capabilities without degradation due to fatigue or lack of attention. Unmanned systems offer the warfighter more options and flexibility to access hazardous environments, work at small scales, or react at speeds and scales beyond human capability. With proper design of bounded autonomous capabilities, unmanned systems can also reduce the high cognitive load currently placed on operatorssupervisors. Moreover, increased autonomy can enable humans to delegate those tasks that are more effectively done by computer, including synchronizing activities between multiple unmanned systems, software agents and warfighters thus freeing humans to focus on more complex decision making.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY OPERATIONS
• COGNITION
• DATA ACQUISITION
• DECISION MAKING
• HUMANS
• REPLACEMENT
• UNMANNED

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE