The US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) has been involved in researching tactical behaviors and multi-modal interfaces to control unmanned systems. This allows for higher level training and fielding capabilities. The unmanned systems of tomorrow will be integrated into individual and unit level operations and will require more resources than just tele-operation and remote piloting. This drives the need for advanced unmanned tactical behaviors and innovative command and control methodologies. Since many of the unmanned systems explored are not yet fielded, an embedded training approach was utilized to test the capabilities, limitations and doctrinal implications of the research. This supports not only the training, but potential operational community.

The goals of this RDECOM-STTC funded research include multi-unit tactical operations, scalability limitations between the air and ground unmanned system domains, training effectiveness, and overall simulation efficiency to supplement live exercises. This US Army funded research explored the applicability of multi-level training of soldiers operating with new air and ground unmanned systems and helped expand their effectiveness within the existing virtual and constructive environments.

This paper is a lesson's learned from the four year development of the toolsets and the integration into existing simulation environments for the applicability to commanding unmanned air and ground vehicles (UxV) and their training aspects. This work was a result of the Intelligent Behaviors for Autonomous Systems research combined with the Embedded Combined Arms Team Training and Mission Rehearsal (ECATT/MR) ATO, both managed by RDECOM-STTC.