SONALYSTS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Sonalysts will develop and demonstrate a game-based adaptive training system for AN/BLQ-10

Description

Sonalysts will develop and demonstrate a game-based adaptive training system for AN/BLQ-10 ESM operators that extends the approach developed for Passive Narrowband Sonar operators in the APB-13 Narrowband Adaptive Trainer. The game elements include a student avatar whose appearance reflects student progress, medals for accomplishment of major LOs, scoring that rewards consistent correct response, and animations that reflect correct and incorrect answers. The adaptive algorithm relies upon teaching by question and answer, with feedback that evaluates the response, provides the correct response, gives hints for making a correct response, and foreshadows future LOs. Eye-tracker measurements will evaluate student performance and tailor feedback to student actions. Sonalysts will conduct feasibility studies to determine the best method of injecting signals and noise into individual subsystem processing algorithms, considering both recorded and simulated signals. The objective will create realistic display response on the AN/BLQ-10, so the operator is naturally trained on the displays and controls of the installed equipment. In addition to the embedded algorithm, Sonalysts will investigate the feasibility of creating a PC-based emulator for the AN/BLQ-10 displays and controls, creating a realistic representation of the same pre-processed signals. This approach will reduce development costs and also support additional shore-based delivery modes.