Battlefield Management System: data requirements to support passage of company level tactical information

Abstract : The objective of this thesis was to quantify a minimum acceptable bound on the data bit (i.e., memory size) and the data bit rate (i.e., the speed with which a microprocessor will need to transfer the information) for BMS (Battlefield Management System) by structuring the voice communications architecture of a sampled unit conducting tactical exercises at the National Training Center (NTC). Emphasis was placed on developing a method for the efficient use of the communications tapes recorded at NTC in research and analytical efforts. Having derived the digital specifications from the maximum voice requirements, it was possible to quantify the positive impact BMS might have during a high intensity tactical situation. The authors conclude that application of digital equipment to solve battlefield reporting and information processing requirements is a realistic, obtainable goal. Getting a digital system into the hands of its future users is essential to the ultimate realization of BMS by allowing users to incorporate a degree of this technology into current Army training. The information requirements as exhibited by the activity on a voice net do not pose an insurmountable challenge with regard to the capabilities of microprocessors currently available nor do the information terms of the size of random access memory required.