Invitation to License the Command and Control LiveSpace Lab.
The C2L2 is an integrative Command and Control (C2) suite both for experimentation and for collaborative efforts. The facility was developed to support DRDC Toronto's Warfighter, Command and HSI Effectiveness program vectors. It is a combination of two projects, the Human Sciences Research Complex (HSRC) and the Live Spaces Lab started in 2010. Increasingly complex experiments will require distributed simulators--physical and virtual--to study individual and team performance in distributed C2 and combatant environments simultaneously. The HSRC is being developed to enable experiments of this type. The C2L2 is currently connected to the rest of the DRDC Toronto campus. Current C2 labs connected; Group Immersive Simulator, Team Lab, UxV Military Robotics Lab, and altitude suite at DRDC Toronto. Eventually this C2L2 will enable DRDC-Toronto to do distributed collaboration R&D with allied nations (UK DTSL, AUS DSTO, US AFRL, other DRDC labs (Valcartier/Halifax)) with a newly dedicated Science & Technology fiber optic high bandwidth network for external connections.
The C2L2 will bring a new capability to DRDC to address the following:
- Allow collaboration amongst distributed networked teams with tools such as LiveSpaces
- Provide high fidelity Command and Control (briefing/real-time/debriefing/analytics) for experimentation. The nature of the experiments requires the collection of physical, physiological, cognitive, sociological data in various electronic formats from distributed sites.
Modern classroom learning environments equipped to support blended learning
- Visual Analytics application development for all-source intelligence center enhancement (including indexed and searchable data center for S&T experimental data)
The C2L2 is being built as an integrative Command and Control (C2) suite for experimentation, learning and for collaborative efforts. It will provide DRDC Toronto with the capability to study command and control in a military context. It will also provide a capability to simultaneously study combatants in C2 and simulated field operations. The C2L2 will be explored as a reach-back capability for the Influence Activities Task Force. Furthermore, it will be explored how visualizing conceptual and geo-tagged information can help improve understanding in operational and educational contexts, and explore how visualization tools can be used effectively in collaborative settings. It will provide commanders and analysts in C2 and INT contexts with methods to reduce cognitive load.
Development Status
A Command and Control LiveSpace Lab has been built and tested, and the research project leading to its development has been completed. It is at the technology readiness level that would allow and facilitate research and development and operational usage. Current work will further expand the capabilities of the C2L2 by adding a dedicated high bandwidth network connection. A suite of tools has been developed to allow participants in the space to collaboratively work in an advanced meeting space. Applications
DRDC is working to develop analytic capabilities for the Canadian Forces Intelligence community. This involves the development of new Visual Analytic (VA) tools and advance human computer interaction tools (such as voice recognition, gesture technologies) to support it. Visual Analytics research will include a set of techniques whereby a user interacts with a visual representation of a problem or domain. Such tools are designed with the single user in mind. Increasingly, however, there is a need to develop VA tools that multiple users can use simultaneously while working on a common problem. This area, often referred to as "collaborative sense- making" is somewhat nascent, and provides us with a unique opportunity to explore the various and optimal methods for facilitating effective collaboration among team members.
Current work will involve building the capabilities of the lab to provide planners/analysts (CF School for Military Intelligence (CFSMI) and Influence Activities Task Force (IATF)) with a means of seeing and interacting with semantic content from geo-referenced intelligence data. Furthermore, it will provide commanders and analysts in C2 and INT contexts with methods to reduce cognitive load and provide educators with new methods for course delivery. This work will be in support of Operational Effectiveness in the Human Dimension: Sense and Sustain Capability Development in Support of Army 2021 and 2040 and the CAF intelligence research and development project.
This lab will serve as a new capability to DRDC in the immediate phase and eventually be available for a variety of CF and Security Partner research and operations activities. The C2L2 is reconfigurable and can be tailored to conduct future R&D in various domains.
- It will enable DRDC to collaborate with CF and National Security partners, academia, allied nations and industry.
- C2 and simulated field operations to enhance research and development (deconfliction of battlespace)
- Provide classroom of the future for Individual Training and Education for Canadian Armed Forces
- Visual Analytics application development for all source intelligence center enhancement
Contribution by Industry
A sole license granting use of the C2L2 intellectual property and all enhancements and know-how emanating from future work will be given to the industrial partner in exchange for concessions to be negotiated.
Industry Briefing
Companies that are interested in learning more about this opportunity are encouraged to register to attend an industrial briefing which will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the Command and Control LiveSpace Lab, DRDC Toronto. Attendees will be required to provide a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement in advance of the meeting.
Replies to Invitation
Following the Industry Briefing, all interested companies will be subsequently afforded an opportunity to submit a fully articulated LOI proposal outlining in detail how they plan to commercialize the C2L2.
To be considered, final LOI responses to this invitation must include the following:
1. Background information on the company’s resource base and geographical linkages (i.e. Annual Reports and other published information) to facilitate the commercialization of the C2L2.
2. A statement of how the company’s capability and expertise assist in the full commercialization and future enhancement of the product, as demonstrated by past initiatives in similar developments or technologies, and fit with the company’s strategic objectives, core competencies and existing products or services.
3. A brief (2 page maximum) marketing / business plan with clearly specified milestones. This should set out targeted customers and national markets, including estimates of annual sales targets, broken out by country.
4. Company’s plans to prosecute national phases of the Patent Cooperation Treaty application in countries other than Canada, including sharing patenting costs with the Crown.
5. Proposed royalty structure and ROM estimate of royalty rates, to be payable to the Crown on all sales of the C2L2.
6. Background information on the education and experience of key scientific, technical and marketing staff (supported by brief resumes) who would be assigned to the project.
These proposals will be assessed in terms of their potential benefit, and negotiations will be initiated with the company receiving the highest score. Should those negotiations not succeed, new negotiations will commence with the next highest-ranked company.
