C2 of autonomous and combined systems for mechanised combat

The present report describes three studies conducted within the project Command and Control of Joint Systems of Intelligent Units (Ledning av Sammansatta System av Intelligenta Enheter, LASSIE). All studies were based on a scenario concerning mechanised warfare at the company level where additional resources were added in the form of semi-autonomous ground vehicles. Research questions concerned how the introduction of autonomous capabilities affect the ability to conduct command and control. This was studied from different points of view, such as level of autonomy, interaction, and tactical behaviour. The studies were conducted in a virtual environment where the platoon commander interacted with a fictive semi-autonomous ground vehicle through voice commands. This was implemented using a Wizard-of-Oz approach. The results show that the participants appreciated the possibility to use the semiautonomous ground vehicle for forward reconnaissance, but had opinions about the speed of the vehicle relative to the unit as a whole. Furthermore, the studies indicate that managing the semi-autonomous vehicle impacted the ability to command the platoon. The participants suggested that a dedicated operator should be responsible for controlling the semi-autonomous vehicle, that it should be controlled through a graphical interface, and that the level of autonomy should be increased. A general lesson learned is that participants in this type of studies need substantial training to be able to utilize semi-autonomous units in a meaningful way. Long-term, dedicated, participants are therefore of the utmost importance.