Network, Positioning, Navigation, Timing, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Modeling
The Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Data & Analysis Center (DAC) is an Army Futures Command organization that conducts a variety of critical analyses to provide state-of-the-art analytical solutions to senior level Army and Department of Defense officials. The Data & Analysis Center's responsive systems analysis supports the "Equipping" and "Sustaining" of weapons and materiel for our Soldiers in the field as well as our Future Army Force. https://www.dac.ccdc.army.mil/home.html
Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will apply mathematical, analytical and computer science principles to develop and improve modeling and simulations capabilities in the areas of Network, Positioning, Navigation, Timing (N/PNT), and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to meet needs of the Data and Analysis Center. The participant will learn the necessary technology performance data at the item level and develop methodology and computational processes to translate this data into information sets compatible with the models and tools used. He/she will gain experience in how to develop and refine methodology to properly represent the physical layers as well as the behavioral processes of the technologies; update methodologies as needed to reflect the evolving design/architecture of the Army’s N/PNT/ISR capabilities and new environments of interest such as urban and foliage. In addition, the selected participant will gain experience as they assist analyses and studies by creating and tracking the task and work schedule, creating or using the proper tools, contributing to analysis tasks, developing reports and presenting briefings.
N/PNT project examples:
- Develop realistic models of direct GPS satellite acquisition for military receivers
- Assess and validate existing engineering-level models of Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPAs), and develop medium-fidelity representations for use in combat simulations
- Research different stochastic filtering approaches to determine the best navigation performance that can be obtained from commercial satellite constellations of interest
- Determine GPS system vulnerabilities and develop realistic attack methodologies and countermeasures
- Assess feasibility of using various complementary technologies to supplement GPS in hostile environments by analytic methods and model development
- Investigate effects of different stochastic filtering architectures on navigation system performance with measurements from GPS, INS, and other complementary sensors
- Develop and test multi-path mitigation algorithms for GPS receivers using high-fidelity code tracking loop model; extend to jamming countermeasures where applicable
- Investigate applications of genetic algorithms and neural networks to optimization problems arising in communications network and navigation system modeling
- Investigate applications of quantum computing to estimation and optimization problems occurring in communications network and navigation system modeling
- ISR project examples:
- Swarm UAS modeling
- Artificial Intelligence Modeling
- ISR M&S methodology development (radar, signals intelligence, electro-optical, radio frequency, infrared, etc.)
- ISR Data Development Tools (ORACLE, APEX, MATLAB, etc.)
Appointment Length
This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.
Participant Benefits
Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by CCDC Data & Analysis Center. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:
- Health Insurance Supplement. Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE.
- Relocation Allowance
- Training and Travel Allowance
Nature of Appointment
The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.
Additional Information
While participants will not enter into an employment relationship with DOD or any other agency, this opportunity will require a suitability investigation/background investigation. Any offer made is considered tentative pending favorable outcome of the investigation. Anticipated start date is TBD.