Author: Maxime Mollefait, dotOcean
Role in PROTEAS project: Provider of the Collaborative Multi-Agent System (CMAS)
In today’s fast-changing world, military forces need to be faster, smarter, and more adaptable than ever. That’s where PROTEAS comes in—a groundbreaking project funded by the European Defence Fund 2022 Programme. This aims to revolutionize the state-of-the-art regarding Special Operations Forces Command Posts, for Command and Control (SOFCPC2).
Our contribution: Integrating Autonomous Operations with CMAS
In the rapidly evolving landscape of military autonomous operations, the PROTEAS Collaborative Multi-Agent System (CMAS) stands as a critical intermediary between the Special Operations Forces Command Post (SOFCP) and unmanned platforms such as Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Designed to facilitate seamless coordination and enhance operational efficiency, CMAS serves as a sophisticated mission management tool that transforms high-level multi-agent objectives into precise, executable tasks for each involved unmanned platform.
A Mission-Centric Approach
At its core, CMAS empowers SOF operators to define overarching, high-level mission goals—such as a collaborative Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission involving both USVs and UAVs. The system takes these strategic objectives and autonomously calculates specific tasks for each platform within the Multi-Agent System (MAS). By automating critical mission elements, CMAS ensures smooth execution across all involved unmanned assets.
Key Functionalities of CMAS
🔹 Path Calculation: Generates optimal navigation paths for each unmanned platform to ensure efficient and safe execution of tasks.
🔹Mission Planning: Translates high-level objectives into a comprehensive plan, detailing specific tasks and schedules for all assets.
🔹Mission Monitoring: Provides real-time oversight of mission progress, enabling C2 operators to maintain situational awareness.
🔹Tasking of Assets: Assigns precise, time-sensitive tasks to each platform, ensuring coordinated execution at designated locations.
By centralizing these functions, CMAS significantly enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of unmanned operations.
Reducing Operator Cognitive Load
One of the key benefits of CMAS is its ability to reduce the cognitive burden on C2 operators. Traditionally, tasking unmanned platforms requires significant manual input and monitoring, which can overwhelm operators and limit mission scalability.
CMAS tackles this challenge through effect-based tasking, automating mission planning and execution. By allowing operators to define the desired outcome without specifying detailed logistics, it enables them to focus on strategic decision-making (the desired effect) rather than intricate task management.
Enabling Collaborative Autonomy
With its focus on collaboration, CMAS ensures that USVs and UAVs work together seamlessly to achieve mission objectives. Its sophisticated algorithms account for the unique capabilities and limitations of each platform, ensuring optimal task allocation and synchronized execution.
By bridging the gap between the SOFCP and unmanned platforms, CMAS facilitates a cohesive and efficient operational ecosystem.
The PROTEAS Collaborative Multi-Agent System (CMAS) represents a transformative leap in mission management for unmanned platforms. By automating critical processes and enhancing collaborative autonomy, CMAS empowers operators to achieve complex mission objectives with precision and efficiency.
About dotOcean
dotOcean, a Belgian cloud robotics company headquartered in Bruges, has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions in autonomous robotics control and advanced situational awareness software, since 2008. Specializing in multi-agent systems, dotOcean integrates data-centric architectures, automation software, and cloud robotics, to deliver robust, scalable, and interoperable solutions for maritime, security, and defence applications.
The company’s expertise lies in enabling collaborative multi-agent robotic applications that seamlessly combine manned and unmanned systems. Their proprietary technologies, such as the AYB control unit, facilitate autonomous navigation, human-machine teaming, and swarming behaviours across heterogeneous systems. These systems are supported by modular, open architectures aligned with NATO STANAG standards, ensuring interoperability and scalability across diverse mission modules.
A leader in multi-agent system management, dotOcean offers advanced solutions for mission coordination and situational awareness through their cloud-connected edge devices and a private data fusion platform. This infrastructure enables real-time data sharing and decision-making between multiple agents in complex environments, ensuring high levels of autonomy and operational efficiency.
Their contributions to multi-agent systems include:
- Collaborative Multi-Agent Robotics: Management of heterogeneous systems, including mission planning, global teaming, and autonomous swarming capabilities.
- Unified Modular Architectures: Development of open, data-centric frameworks using protocols like DDS and standards such as STANAG 4754, UMAA, and OSSA to integrate multi-agent subsystems into cohesive, scalable operations.
- Digital Twin Technology: Creation of a Unified Modular Open Digital Twin Architecture, enhancing system performance through hierarchical integration of mission management, vehicle control, and CI/CD pipelines for comprehensive operational oversight.
With significant contributions to European defence projects, dotOcean exemplifies how multi-agent systems are transforming maritime operations, autonomous navigation, and critical infrastructure security. Through their innovative multi-agent solutions and cloud robotics implementations, dotOcean is shaping the future of Autonomous systems.
dotOcean NV
Gistelsesteenweg 294 box 205
8200 Brugge
Belgium
http://www.dotocean.eu
