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All MITRE Projects (with summaries and presentations where available)
Listing of project titles in alphabetical order
Pages: 1234567891011121314151617
Agency of the Future Overview
Primary Investigator:Sciambi, Rick
Exhibit Date(s):May 7
Airborne Network QoS Management
Primary Investigator:Grace, Kevin H.
Problems:
In this follow-on year, we are expanding the scope of the AN QoS Management MOIE project and tackling the vexing problem of providing satisfactory network service in the presence of streaming video feeds from ISR assets to consumers across an airborne network. Airborne networks are vulnerable to high bandwidth flows like video and need admission control for protection.
Objectives:
We are creating a Video Admission Control (VAC) prototype that will protect important mission applications (including video) from video streams of less important producers. The VAC will support flexible sharing policies including customizable rules for specifying relative priorities of potential video flows and actions for dealing with flows in over-subscribed situations (e.g., pre-empt or deny). The VAC will provide positive control over the number of video flows allowed across the network at a time and the amount of bandwidth they consume.
Activities:
The VAC prototype is being developed on top of COTS networking technology augmented with custom scripts and software. The software architecture includes four components: 1) a configuration database for storing router, matching rules, and bandwidth pool information; 2) a Configuration GUI tool for populating the configuration database; 3) an admission controller engine for dynamically evaluating flow demands and disseminating Access Control Lists to routers; 4) a Monitor GUI tool for observing flow demands and available bandwidth levels. Important milestones include:
1) Define configuration database schema - Dec 2008
2) Initial release of Configuration & Monitor GUIs - Feb 2009
3) Initial release of Admission Controller - Mar 2009
4) Complete Lab Testing - Aug 2009
5) Test Report - Sept 2009
6) Open Source Release - Sept 2009.
We are working to integrate with suitable venues for demonstrating the prototype including CABLE JCTD and JEFX. We will evaluate application performance with/without the VAC across the Airborne Network Testbed including TTNT radios. An Open Source release of the software we develop will be made freely available to the airborne networking community.
Impact:
The prototype VAC we develop will help create a better understanding of how to support video across an Airborne Network. We will work to share our developments and collaborate with other researchers in order to positively influence other related efforts. The insights and recommendations gained by conducting the QoS investigations will directly influence several programs including AWACS, JSTARS, OG, and AN.
Public Release No:09-0790
[Presentation]
Anti-Tamper Technology
Primary Investigator:Faull, Brian L.
Problems:
Tamper resistant (anti-tamper or AT) technology is mandated for all DoD systems with sensitive components and information. Emerging DoD, other government, and civilian systems include new, diverse devices with low per-unit cost thresholds and ubiquitous deployment. These systems increasingly depend on COTS technology. Often, the AT methods used provide insufficient protection or inadequate scalability.
Objectives:
This project will develop and validate low-cost tamper-resistance methods against advanced threats (common and emerging) for various systems. These include applications in communications, munitions, identification, signal processing, and other hardware and software systems built on FPGAs, SmartCards, RFIDs, Microprocessors, DSPs, and other components.
Activities:
We will implement and demonstrate tamper resistance and verification mechanisms. We will prototype novel, targeted AT techniques, and use our verification mechanisms to demonstrate and quantify improvements in tamper resistance. We will apply these techniques to a variety of hardware and software systems. Throughout, we will engage in dialog and transition opportunities with several sponsors.
Impact:
Our research will provide better protection and assurance for low-cost technologies to counter advanced threats. We will improve assurance and AT characteristics of critical applications, including handheld and embedded systems, weapon systems, high assurance/trusted computing platforms, identification systems, communication systems (wired and wireless), and border security systems. We will increase involvement with the community (commercial, academic, government) to demonstrate and develop corporate expertise in this important area.
Public Release No:09-0814
[Presentation]
Exhibit Date(s):May 5
Applying an Enterprise Framework to Greening the Federal Government
Primary Investigator:See, Karen B.
Problems:
Research Objective:
This research will apply a systems perspective and structured framework to evaluate the effectiveness of existing government-wide initiatives on one or two government agencies and develop recommendations and an implementation roadmap to make agency initiatives more effective.
Research Hypothesis:
Departments/agencies that use a mission-driven, systems-oriented framework for planning and managing their business activities can have a significantly greater effect on reducing environmental impacts over current approaches, without compromising mission objectives.
Objectives:
1. Develop an approach for evaluating government agency effectiveness for achieving "green" performance goals.
2. Validate the mission-focused enterprise model as a means for increasing impact of green initiatives.
Activities:
-- Forman Advisory Group drawn from the Office of Management and Budget, Officeof the Federal Environmental Executive, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and the General Services Administration
-- Selecta government agency to study its current practices and to consider how our framework could be applied to improve outcomes.
-- Refinethe framework based on findings
-- Documentobservations and confirm the validity of the hypothesis and define ifadditional research is required
-- Updatethe Advisory Group and collect feedback
-- Publish findings and identify future research opportunities.
Impact:
-- Influencesthe way the federal government identifies and manages green initiatives
-- Increasesthe effectiveness of government green initiatives through: incorporation of our method into federal guidelines and executive orders andapplication with other Department/Agencies
–- Strengthens relationships between MITRE and government leaders of cross-agency initiatives.
Public Release No:09-1147
[Presentation]
Applying Plasmonics to Counterfeit Detection
Primary Investigator:Hwang, Grace M.
Problems:
Problem of counterfeiting banknotes and e-Passports and crucial documents constitutes a grave danger to U.S. economy and security. The most often counterfeited currency is that of the USA because of its wide use around the world and limited security. The availability of high technology, from color photocopying machines to scanners to color laser printers has all added to the counterfeiting problems. The economic threat due to currency counterfeiting is posed by state-sponsored activities, professional criminals, petty criminals and opportunists. Furthermore, the problem of counterfeiting is not limited to currency; fake passports and other crucial documents can result in serious national security breach due to terrorists and international criminals.We propose to bring to bear nano-materials development, ultraviolet and near-infrared Resonant Raman spectroscopy to create optical features for both e-Passports and banknotes to function as overt and covert attributes. The nano-optical features, as added security, contain encrypted key and forensic signatures that make them very challenging to replicate. Furthermore, fabrication of the nano-optical features require sophisticated equipment and process and are challenging to reproduce.
Objectives:
Design and fabricate nanostructures
Demonstrate large Raman enhancement factors.
Activities:
Breakdown of MITRE team and university collaboration activity:
MITRE, 1) Build a test bed in Bedford to evaluate university-fabricated nano-structure, 2) Explore suitable materials for SERS marker authentication.
University, 1) Fabricate periodic nanostructures SERS markers, 2) Include authentication materials in SERS markers.
Naval Research Lab, 1) Generate ultraviolet and near-infrared Resonant Raman spectroscopic signatures of U.S. notes.
Impact:
Federal government agencies such as BEP (currency) and GPO (passport) and state and local governments (driver license, etc.) will greatly benefit from anti-counterfeiting technology.
Public Release No:09-1123
[Presentation]
Assessing the Nation's Emergency Preparedness and Response Cognitions: A Pandemic Influenza Proof-of-Concept
Primary Investigator:Egeth, Jill D.
Problems:
In order to understand, predict, and modify human behavior during a disaster, we need a complete understanding of citizens’ disaster-related attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions, also known as cognitions. These cognitions have not yet been appropriately explored by the EP&R research community, hence, current EP&R plans are based on an incomplete understanding of citizens’ attitudes and beliefs. The EP&R Cognitions IR&D applies a health psychology approach to the assessment of citizens' emergency preparedness and response attitudes, beliefs, and judgments, using Pandemic Influenza as a proof-of-concept case.
The EP&R Cognitions research program applies online survey techniques to collect PanFlu and EP&R cogntion data from a nationally-representative sample. Our work will yield data on citizens’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of pandemic influenza and the associated EP&R behaviors described by the Homeland Security Council’s National Planning Scenarios. This data will be used by our team to create a set of recommended modifications and improvements to pandemic influenza EP&R plans so that successful citizen engagement in prescribed behaviors is maximized.
Objectives:
1. Increase scientific understanding of citizens' Pandemic Influenza beliefs, attitudes, and judgments.
2. Increase scientific understanding of citizens' beliefs, attitudes, and judgments for a specific set of emergency preparedness and response behaviors.
3. Develop a set of recommended modifications and improvements to current PanFlu EP&R plans so that successful citizen engagement in prescribed behaviors is maximized.
4. Create a generalizable methodology for collection of survey data on citizens' attitudes, beliefs, and judgments, as they relate to a variety of disaster scenarios and the EP&R behaviors required for these scenarios
Activities:
1. Construct “Pandemic Influenza Cognition” assessment, using survey tools and methodology from psychology and public health. This survey will yield data on citizens’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of pandemic influenza and the associated EP&R behaviors described by the Homeland Security Council’s National Planning Scenarios.
2. Pilot test survey on MITRE population; modify survey based on pilot test results.
3. Deploy online version of "Pandemic Influenza Cognition" survey using a nationally-representative sample.
4. Analyze survey data and develop an understanding of citizens' PanFlu and associated EP&R cognitions.
5. Use survey findings to develop a set of recommended modifications and improvements to current PanFlu EP&R plans so that successful citizen engagement in prescribed behaviors is maximized.
Impact:
The EP&R Cognitions research program will yield data on citizens’ attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions of pandemic influenza and the associated EP&R behaviors described by the Homeland Security Council’s National Planning Scenarios. This data will be used by our team to create a set of recommended modifications and improvements to pandemic influenza EP&R plans so that successful citizen engagement in prescribed behaviors is maximized. Ultimately, these modifications to EP&R plans could result in reduced mortality and reduced costs associated with a disaster.
We are also interested in developing a generalizable research methodology that could be applied to cognition research for all 15 of the current Disaster Planning Scenarios. This generalizable methodology would provide a cost effective approach to additional research in the "EP&R Cognitions" arena.
Public Release No:09-1277
[Presentation]
Exhibit Date(s):May 7
Assurance for NextGen Software-Intensive Systems
Primary Investigator:Howell, Charles C
Problems:
The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is expected to depend heavily on software-intensive systems for automation and decision support. Certifying that these systems perform reliably and as expected is a significant challenge. Research is needed to identify new approaches to software assurance for these systems. The goal of this project is to develop notations, tools, and techniques useful for the analysis of dependability cases for NextGen and for safety-critical, software-intensive systems of systems in general. We intend to demonstrate added rigor and scrutiny as a result of applying these tools and techniques in the analysis of an FAA safety/dependability case.
Objectives:
Our first goal is to establish an initial choice of notation and techniques for "ingesting" an existing dependability case into tool-supported online format and for analyzing the dependability case. We will then apply these tools and techniques to a specific subset of the dependability claims that we will use as a case study, and calibrate what was effective. Throughout the project we will place an emphasis on establishing collaborative links with key university and government research organizations interested in the analysis of dependability cases.
Activities:
We will define the initial schema and plug-in framework for dependability case ingest and review. The project team will establish a collaborative relationship with university researchers studying dependable systems, government researchers examining safety-critical avionics, and related standards activities in RTCA and the International Organization for Standardization. We will then perform a case study by applying our tools and techniques to aspects of a real project safety case.
Impact:
The initial research result will be a demonstration prototype of an extended claims-arguments-evidence framework and a prototype tool for analyzing dependability cases. We will demonstrate these results by applying them to an existing system. This will allow calibration of the expressiveness and ease of use of the tools and notations, and suggest next steps for increasing rigor and scrutiny of NextGen safety cases.
Public Release No:09-1014
[Presentation]
Exhibit Date(s):May 6, May 7
Aviation Security Collaboration
Primary Investigator:Howland, Maurice
Problems:
Collaboration on national airspace security requires tightly orchestrated activities across a number of organizations in multiple locations. Today this coordination takes place through voice conferencing over the FAA's Domestic Events Network. The Joint Planning and Development Office's Security Annex Concept of Operations for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) recommends "a unified command, control, and communication framework for integrated risk management decision-making." Although there has been considerable research to date in areas related to the collaboration required for such a unified framework, none until now has combined the multiple characteristics of synchronicity, non-collocation, multiple organizations, time sensitivity, and crisis management in the aviation domain. This study of procedures and technology features is intended to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of this multi-agency collaboration.
Objectives:
This research is developing a collaboration model for use in time-sensitive crisis management involving multiple unrelated and non-collocated organizations. Given the need to address cross-organizational cultural issues, our initial goal is to design a mutually agreeable two-part collaboration model. Part 1 of the model will be a collection of procedures and practices for inter-organizational decision making, collaboration, and response coordination. Part 2 will be a set of recommended tool features and interface requirements for each participating organization. In follow-on research, we will employ laboratory exercises to obtain stakeholder involvement and feedback on these concepts.
Activities:
We will begin by summarizing existing collaboration research to provide a theoretical underpinning for our model. We will also investigate the rules and regulations governing the actions of the security partners so that we can summarize stakeholder roles and responsibilities in a way that not only makes it clear what each partner does, but also ensures that none countermands or infringes on the authority of other organizations. We are interviewing stakeholders, including military and civil agencies as well as airlines, and observing their crisis operations. Lessons learned from these interviews and observations, as well as from the summaries of research, rules, and regulations, will be incorporated into development of the proposed collaboration model. Next year, we plan to test the model through table-top and lab experiments in MITRE facilities.
Impact:
The airspace security community needs an accepted method for handling incidents: a "common operating paradigm." This will reduce confusion and save time, which translates into saving money and lives. A new collaboration model is needed that will support the NextGen vision, will be transportable to other domains requiring time-sensitive coordination and collaboration across multiple organizations, and will enable government agencies to make immediate use of the findings from this research.
Public Release No:09-1009
[Presentation]
Beyond Simulation Centers: High Throughput Computing Clouds to Support Simulation as a Service. A Case Study Using OneSAF
Primary Investigator:Page Jr., Ernest H.
[Presentation]
Bio-Threat Aircraft Warning System (BTAWS) – Single Particle Sensing
Primary Investigator:Hwang, Grace M.
Problems:
Detect single particles of bacteria or viruses within the order of 100 seconds. The need for high reliability, sensitive biosensing at border crossing in intermodal transportation environments (e.g., rail, airplane, passenger screening) is of great importance to securing the U.S. borders. A field-deployable biosensor should generate results in real-time (e.g., several seconds), be sensitive (e.g., single-particle detection limit) and reliable (i.e., low probability of false alarm). Ideally, the sensing solution should be affordable and non-obtrusive.
Objectives:
Develop a breadboard to sense single viral particles in liquid using multiple micro-disks in an optofluidics chip in a non-analyte specific manner.
Activities:
In year one, MITRE will determine the Q’s required to measure a variety of biological analytes at single-particle resolution through calculations, simulations, and experimentation. Analytes include inactivated viruses, bacteria. We will design a waveguide to couple to an array of optical micro-disk simultaneously; the design shall be extensive to a highly parallel platform. We will model the effects of fluid movement to the Q of the disk.
Impact:
The proposed research is well aligned with CEM’s interest in solving DHS and HHS/CDC needs for bio-sensing. DHS is interested in detecting and identifying the presence of a biowarfare attack at U.S. borders and in the public transit system. HHS and CDC are interested in ensuring a successful implementation of the pandemic influenza prevention plan. This research should further MITRE’s visibility as an applied research institution that is capable of bridging the gap between state-of-the-art research in universities and available commercial technologies to meet our sponsor needs. Should a successful proof-of-principle single-particle sensor be demonstrated, utility in other scenarios -– commercial, civilian, or military -- will be explored (e.g., hospital waiting rooms).
Public Release No:09-1156
[Presentation]
Exhibit Date(s):May 6, May 7
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