While operating at the tactical edge, warfighters must quickly make life-or-death decisions. They rely on the intelligence available to them via communications, observation, and other sources. However, as warfighting systems become more interconnected, massive amounts of data are available at any given point in time—resulting in information overload.
Adding to the data challenge, rival nations have publicly demonstrated an increasing use of technologies like warfighter-worn sensors, artificial intelligence-aided decision chains, and algorithmic warfare. This makes quick, accurate decisions by allied warfighters even more imperative.
To stay ahead of the adversary, the Department of Defense (DOD) must empower warfighters with technology at the tactical edge that puts intelligence into context, informs decisions, and connects military teams with relevant information. From fully connected sensor suites and edge processing to artificially intelligent wearables and robotic teammates, a vast breadth of technologies is available.
But loading warfighters up with massive amounts of data, and more and more technology and hardware leads to increased physical and cognitive load and opens them up to fatigue, distraction, and vulnerability. With near-peer adversaries operating at machine speed, how can the human warfighter outthink the enemy?