Every war introduces a new round of tactics and technologies. Our present war might be characterized as a confrontation between the Suicide Bomber and the Unmanned Air Vehicle.AvantGuard 1 models this confrontation and exposes it to study. It is a computer game in which UAVs are used to protect a convoy in hostile urban terrain. Adversaries hide among the residents and prepare an ambush. The operator directs small UAVs and studies the resulting sensor stream. He must find the ambush before the convoy arrives.AvantGuard serves those who seek to improve the effectiveness of the UAV mission. It is an instrument with which researchers can measure performance as they develop new systems.AvantGuard is particularly designed to study the interplay of human supervisor and autonomous UAVs. Its cognitive challenges are organized into distinct tasks. For each task, the autonomy level of the UAV is set independently. Calibrated to established standards, results are easily compared to one another and to the findings of other researchers.By addressing real-world problems, such as battlefield constraints on bandwidth and the limits of machine vision, AvantGuard presents a credible approach to mission simulation, training and eventual execution. By employing sophisticated game techniques, AvantGuard advances an innovative design. By considering the post-combat role of the military, it prepares an instrument to advance the goals of peace as well as those of war.

Presented is an overview of virtual and augmented reality techniques. This article is tailored for learning professionals who find mixed reality interesting but confusing. Included are a dozen features that differentiate points on the Mixed Reality Spectrum, enabling readers to choose the ones that are best suited for learners.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. searching data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewvng the collection of information. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTESThis is the final report for the Phase I SBIR effort by GamesThatWork (Big Fun Development) entitled Adaptive Levels of Autonomy (ALOA) for UAV Supervisory Control. ABSTRACTAvantGuard is an instrument with which researchers can study the interplay of human direction and autonomous behavior in conducting a simulated mission where a human supervises multiple autonomous Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV). AvantGuard is a computer game in which UAVs are used to protect a convoy moving through unsecured urban terrain under conditions of asymmetric conflict. Adversaries hide among the residents and prepare an ambush. The operator directs small UAVs and studies the resulting sensor stream to find the ambush before the convoy arrives in the trap. Autonomy is decomposed into four cognitive phases: look, see, decide, act. Each is matched to an exemplary task: sensor location, image analysis, threat assessment, and convoy rerouting. Each of these is independently assigned a Level of autonomy, or an adaptive strategy. Using sophisticated game techniques, a high-performance UAV simulation game prototype was developed, as well as the design for the experimenter interface.

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