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"Cursor on Target" Improves Efficiency Rich Byrne 
abs give us an environment to test new ideas, such as machine-to-machine automation that can make time-sensitive targeting three times faster and significantly more accurate. In a 30-day rapid prototyping effort, MITRE addressed a problem highlighted by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General John Jumper. He wanted to replace the old way of targeting— which involved time-consuming, error-prone human translations—with an automated way of passing key targeting information (what, where, when) across multiple machines. In creating the new system, a MITRE team fused target information from a laser range finder, a compass, and a GPS receiver and then sent the data to an intelligence system to be refined for high-precision resolution. From there the data was relayed over a Link 16 radio to an F15E jet fighter to be automatically downloaded to onboard precision-guided munitions. All these interchanges were handled machine to machine. The idea is for battle commanders to be able to mouse over an aerial view of enemy positions, point, click a cursor, and watch as the target is eliminated. Cursor on Target provides real-time access to secure and reliable information. We conducted some of the early tests of the Cursor prototype in the SWIFT lab, and later tests were conducted with live-fly exercises. The result was a series of rapid spirals that culminated in the deployment of Cursor on Target as part of the M2MT (Machine-to-Machine Targeting) system. This success has spawned more than 50 other Cursor on Target prototypes, a large number of lab demonstrations, and the approval for a number of additional rapid deployments. |
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| For more information, please contact Rich Byrne using the employee directory. Page last updated: January 6, 2005 | Top of page |
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