Simplified human-machine interfaces top list of critical US DoD technologies

A modern-day cell phone packs quite a wallop when it comes to computing technology and capability. But most cell phones barely come with a "quick start guide," let alone an instruction manual that spells out how to use all the features. Cell phone companies have mastered the interface between humans and technology, making their use entirely intuitive and rendering thick instruction manuals a thing of the past. C. Todd Lopez, U.S. Department of Defense, explains.
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Microelectronics, constituent materials on circuit boards, are critical to U.S. defense. (Picture source: U.S. DOD/C. Todd Lopez)

The same thing should be happening for weapons systems used by service members, Heidi Shyu, who serves as the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, said. During a virtual discussion today with the Potomac Officers Club near Washington, D.C., she said intuitive, easy-to-use human/machine interfaces are something that's a priority for her and the Defense Department.

"When I [served as an executive for the] Army before, one of the experiences I learned is with a lot of our weapons system, you really have to have a manual and go through weeks of training, if not months and years to be proficient, which is ridiculous," she said. "[Weapons systems] ought to be designed with the appropriate ease-of-use human/machine interface, so it will become much more intuitive."

As the Defense Department's chief technology officer, Shyu said she's interested in developing better ways to simplify the way service members use the technology they are given in order to reduce the training burden and learning curve.

"I really would like to see how we can change our weapons systems' human/machine interface to be a lot more intuitive, to ease the amount of training that's required," she said.

For most service members, the combat use of a weapon such as a rifle, an aircraft that can drop a bomb or launch a missile, or a ship or tank that fires a gun requires a munition to be loaded. All of these kinetic weapons systems fire solid projectiles which need to be carried along with warfighters, and which may eventually run out. But a new generation of weapons systems, which uses directed energy rather than expendable ammunition or ordnance, is on the horizon, Shyu said.

"In the area of directed energy, we're ... finally at the cusp of developing laser technology," she said. "After 30 years, we're finally getting to the point of fielding the prototypes. So I'm thrilled. Army and Navy are [both] fielding laser systems. I'm really happy to see that. We're also developing high-power microwave systems as well."

The Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy program, or ODIN for short, is a nonlethal weapons system used to confuse and perhaps render harmless an enemy drone — rather than shooting it down. The ODIN system is already installed on multiple Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers within the Navy's fleet, and there are plans to install additional systems as well.

The Army is also developing several directed energy systems. One of those is the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD system, which involves a 50kW-class laser to protect divisions and brigade combat teams from unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing aircraft, and threats from rockets, artillery and mortars.

The department is also interested in the development of advanced materials, Shyu said. "I'm certainly interested in materials that can handle higher heat, higher temperature, next-generation hypersonic materials," she said. "I'm interested in material that's stronger, but lighter weight. It certainly can help us reduce the logistics burden, and also materials that can have higher efficiency — materials that can potentially change properties. [There are] a lot of different areas within advanced materials we need to continue to push the research in."

The department is also doing its part to bring the manufacture of microelectronics back to the U.S. to improve supply chain reliability, Shyu said.

"You guys have all heard about the situation that we're in with the supply chain, where 70% of our chips are coming from Asia," she said. "That poses a supply chain risk. You can see there's a lot of interest on the Hill in terms of helping out the microelectronics foundries to try to onshore some of the capabilities."

Shyu said the Defense Department is working closely with the Department of Commerce and with foundry companies to make that happen. "We also work very closely with intelligence communities to make sure we understand all the needs and figure out how we can leverage commercial processes which can evolve at a much faster rate than just the defense-unique foundry," she said.

Finally, Shyu said, the department is interested in having the U.S. take the lead on the development of 5G technologies — and the advancement of the next-generation of radio communications as well. "I call it the 'next G'," she said. "Namely, beyond 5G. What I don't want to happen is for us to take our eyes off the ball and play catch-up. I'm interested in making sure we're developing technologies on 6G and 7G, so we, the U.S., can shape the standards, as opposed to some other country shaping the standard and us playing catch-up."

5G communications is an important element of the president's fiscal 2022 budget request. (Picture source: U.S. Air Force/Nelson James)

Defense News January 2022