Command and Control Infrastructures: The Need for Open Systems Solutions

Abstract

The issue of Command, Control and Communications is generally associated with the management infrastructure of large scale military systems. However, in the application of Command and Control principles to the synthesis and integration of complex robotic systems and other large scale distributed systems, a need emerges for a development approach emphasising interoperability, reusability and scalability. This approach represents an open systems solution to complex command and control problems, system development being focused on reusable component integration. A prototype Command and Control Reference Model is introduced, that supports component oriented construction of robotic systems infrastructures, and which is scalable to larger, high capital value command and control systems.