Theater-Wide Reference Information Management

Future military operational concepts emphasize the use of multi-platform operations and the sharing of resources within the theater of operations. This capability would allow many more users access to data from expensive resources and could help extend the operational life of certain aging airframes. However, before concepts for sharing such resources reach their full operational potential, many technical issues must be resolved. Of particular interest and technical challenge are issues related to the processing and sharing of reference systems information. The Reference Systems Branch of the Wright Laboratory Avionics Directorate has conceived a family of programs to address technical issues associated with the fusion and sharing of reference system information in the theater-wide environment. These programs, collectively referred to as TRIM, or Theater-wide Reference Information Management, assume the perspective of a combat aircraft in an operational theater that includes other airborne platforms, overhead assets, and ground based resources. The programs include the Information Management for Theater-Wide Reference Systems, or IMTRS effort, completed by The Analytic Sciences Corporation, the Common Reference Frame (CORF) Small Business Innovation Research effort, and a TRIM Program Research and Development Announcement, the latter two to be awarded during FY96. A future advanced development effort, Theater-wide Reference Information Management Demonstration, will follow these programs and is scheduled to begin in 1998. This paper provides background information on the current status of airborne reference systems technology and the motivation for extending reference systems concerns to the multi-platform arena. It also highlights several previous technical efforts that form a technical foundation for the TRIM programs and describes current TRIM plans and technical quandaries