Search Results (29)

Multiple-resolution modeling (MRM) has emerged as a foundational paradigm in modern simulation, enabling the integration of models with varying levels of granularity to address complex and evolving operational demands. By supporting seamless transitions between high-resolution and low-resolution representations, MRM facilitates scalability and interoperability, particularly within distributed simulation environments such as military command and control systems. This paper provides a structured review and comparative analysis of prominent MRM methodologies, including multi-resolution entities (MRE), agent-based modeling (from a federation viewpoint), hybrid frameworks, and the novel MR mode, synchronizing resolution transitions with time advancement and interaction management. Each approach is evaluated across critical dimensions such as consistency, computational efficiency, flexibility, and integration with legacy systems. Emphasis is placed on the applicability of MRM in distributed military simulations, where it enables dynamic interplay between strategic-level planning and tactical-level execution, supporting real-time decision-making, mission rehearsal, and scenario-based training. The paper also explores emerging trends involving artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) as enablers for adaptive resolution management and automated model interoperability. Full article

In today’s high-stakes arenas—from healthcare to defense—algorithms are advancing at an unprecedented pace, yet they still lack a crucial element of human decision-making: an instinctive caution that helps prevent harm. Inspired by both the protective reflexes seen in military robotics and the human amygdala’s role in threat detection, we introduce a novel idea: an integrated module that acts as an internal “caution system”. This module does not experience emotion in the human sense; rather, it serves as an embedded safeguard that continuously assesses uncertainty and triggers protective measures whenever potential dangers arise. Our proposed framework combines several established techniques. It uses Bayesian methods to continuously estimate the likelihood of adverse outcomes, applies reinforcement learning strategies with penalties for choices that might lead to harmful results, and incorporates layers of human oversight to review decisions when needed. The result is a system that mirrors the prudence and measured judgment of experienced clinicians—hesitating and recalibrating its actions when the data are ambiguous, much like a doctor would rely on both intuition and expertise to prevent errors. We call on computer scientists, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to collaborate in refining and testing this approach. Through joint research, pilot projects, and robust regulatory guidelines, we aim to ensure that advanced computational systems can combine speed and precision with an inherent predisposition toward protecting human life. Ultimately, by embedding this cautionary module, the framework is expected to significantly reduce AI-induced risks and enhance patient safety and trust in medical AI systems. It seems inevitable for future superintelligent AI systems in medicine to possess emotion-like processes. Full article

Quadruped robots have emerged as a prominent field of research due to their exceptional mobility and adaptability in complex terrains. This paper presents an overview of quadruped robots, encompassing their design principles, control mechanisms, perception systems, and applications across various industries. We review the historical evolution and technological milestones that have shaped quadruped robotics. To understand their impact on performance and functionality, key aspects of mechanical design are analyzed, including leg configurations, actuation systems, and material selection. Control strategies for locomotion, balance, and navigation are all examined, highlighting the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance adaptability and autonomy. This review also explores perception and sensing technologies that enable environmental interaction and decision-making capabilities. Furthermore, we systematically examine the diverse applications of quadruped robots in sectors including the military, search and rescue, industrial inspection, agriculture, and entertainment. Finally, we address challenges and limitations, including technical hurdles, ethical considerations, and regulatory issues, and propose future research directions to advance the field. By structuring this review as a systematic study, we ensure clarity and a comprehensive understanding of the domain, making it a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in quadruped robotics. Full article

Battlefields contain complex networks of electromagnetic (EM) systems, owned by adversary/allied military forces and civilians, communicating intentionally or unintentionally. Attacker’s strategies may include Intentional EM Interference (IEMI) to adversary target systems, although transmitted signals may additionally degrade/disrupt allied/civilian systems (called victims). To aid decision-making processes relating to IEMI attacks, Risk Assessment (RA) is performed to determine whether interference risks to allied/civilian systems are acceptable. Currently, there is no formalized Quantitative RA Method (QRAM) capable of calculating victim risk distributions, so a novel approach is proposed to address this knowledge gap, utilizing an Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) IEMI RA method modeling scenarios consisting of interacting EM systems within complex, dynamic, diverse, and uncertain environments, using Systems-of-Systems (SoS) theory. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap via critical analysis utilizing a case study which demonstrates the use of an Acknowledged SoS-based model as input to a QRAM capable of calculating victim risk distributions within EW IEMI RA-associated scenarios. Transmitter operators possess only uncertain/fuzzy knowledge of victim systems, so it is proposed that a Moot Acknowledged System-of-Fuzzy-Systems applies to EW IEMI RA scenarios. In summary, a novel SoS description feeding a novel QRAM (supported by a systematic literature review of RA mathematical modeling techniques)is proposed to address the knowledge gap. Full article

With the rapid development of perception, decision-making, and control technologies, pursuit–evasion (PE) games with unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) have become an interesting research topic in military implementations and civilian areas. In this paper, we provide an overview of recent advances in the PE games with USVs. First, the motion model of USVs and successful criteria for PE games are presented. Next, some challenging issues in PE games with USVs are briefly discussed. Then, recent results on one-pursuer one-evader, multiple-pursuer one-evader, and multiple-pursuer multiple-evader with USVs are reviewed in detail. Finally, several theoretical and technical issues are suggested to direct future research, including target prediction, dynamic task allocation, brain-inspired decision-making, safe control, and PE experiments. Full article

Prehospital medical care is a major challenge for both civilian and military situations as resources are limited, yet critical triage and treatment decisions must be rapidly made. Prehospital medicine is further complicated during mass casualty situations or remote applications that require more extensive medical treatments to be monitored. It is anticipated on the future battlefield where air superiority will be contested that prolonged field care will extend to as much 72 h in a prehospital environment. Traditional medical monitoring is not practical in these situations and, as such, wearable sensor technology may help support prehospital medicine. However, sensors alone are not sufficient in the prehospital setting where limited personnel without specialized medical training must make critical decisions based on physiological signals. Machine learning-based clinical decision support systems can instead be utilized to interpret these signals for diagnosing injuries, making triage decisions, or driving treatments. Here, we summarize the challenges of the prehospital medical setting and review wearable sensor technology suitability for this environment, including their use with medical decision support triage or treatment guidance options. Further, we discuss recommendations for wearable healthcare device development and medical decision support technology to better support the prehospital medical setting. With further design improvement and integration with decision support tools, wearable healthcare devices have the potential to simplify and improve medical care in the challenging prehospital environment. Full article

Originally, the use of hyperspectral images was for military applications, but their use has been extended to precision agriculture. In particular, they are used for activities related to crop classification or disease detection, combining these hyperspectral images with machine learning techniques and algorithms. The study of hyperspectral images has a wide range of wavelengths for observation. These wavelengths allow for monitoring agricultural crops such as cereals, oilseeds, vegetables, and fruits, and other applications. In the ranges of these wavelengths, crop conditions such as maturity index and nutrient status, or the early detection of some diseases that cause losses in crops, can be studied and diagnosed. Therefore, this article proposes a technical review of the main applications of hyperspectral images in agricultural crops and perspectives and challenges that combine artificial intelligence algorithms such as machine learning and deep learning in the classification and detection of diseases of crops such as cereals, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables. A systematic review of the scientific literature was carried out using a 10-year observation window to determine the evolution of the integration of these technological tools that support sustainable agriculture; among the findings, information on the most documented crops is highlighted, among which are some cereals and citrus fruits due to their high demand and large cultivation areas, as well as information on the main fruits and vegetables that are integrating these technologies. Also, the main artificial intelligence algorithms that are being worked on are summarized and classified, as well as the wavelength ranges for the prediction, disease detection, and analysis of other tasks of physiological characteristics used for sustainable production. This review can be useful as a reference for future research, based mainly on detection, classification, and other tasks in agricultural crops and decision making, to implement the most appropriate artificial intelligence algorithms. Full article

Decision-making processes in the military domain constitute a strategic field of research in cognitive psychology, although there are currently few scientific publications addressing the topic. Professionals in the field and interested parties need access to data on military decision-making processes to understand where and how the scientific community is directing its investigations on the issue. Military decision-making is a strategic field of study because the military is crucial to the security and defense of a country or community. This work aims to be a point of reference for those involved in various capacities in military decision-making, providing key data regarding research trends over the years, the geographical distribution of scientific productivity, methodologies employed, annual statistics, and the prevalence of the most-investigated terms and topics. Therefore, this study serves as a bibliometric analysis of the literature on military decision-making publihed from 1992 to 2023 on the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Full article

This narrative review examines the intricate psychophysiological interplay between cognitive functions and physical responses within military personnel engaged in combat. It elucidates the spectrum of responses elicited by symmetric and asymmetric warfare alongside specialised combat scenarios, including close-quarters and subterranean warfare. Central to this discourse is the emphasis on integrating training programs beyond physical conditioning to encompass psychological resilience and decision-making efficacy under duress. The exploration further ventures into applying advanced technologies such as virtual reality and wearable devices, highlighting their pivotal role in augmenting training outcomes and supporting soldier health. Through a detailed analysis of psychophysiological variations across different military branches of service, the narrative review advocates for bespoke training regimens and support frameworks tailored to address the unique exigencies of each service branch. Concluding observations stress the importance of evolving military training paradigms, advocating for adopting realistic, immersive training simulations that mirror the complexities of the contemporary battlefield. This synthesis aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on optimising military training protocols and enhancing the operational readiness and well-being of armed forces personnel. This narrative review is essential for military psychologists, trainers, and policymakers, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation in military training programs. Full article

This paper explores the notion of strategic intelligence, namely with respect to leadership and business-oriented areas. Strategic intelligence is a researched concept that primarily concerns the collection and analysis of intelligence for policy and military planning, mainly at national and international levels, whereas this study of management and organizational decision-making application is an extension of that. This article’s subject is the necessity for strategic intelligence, a crucial competence for leaders, managers, and companies striving to remain competitive, to be utilized and best leveraged in today’s volatile and dynamic business contexts. This study follows a research design that includes a thorough literature review and bibliometric research, executed via VoSViewer, illustrating the concept of strategic intelligence from a leadership point of view as a driver of competitive advantage, enhanced by knowledge dynamics. Furthermore, this article points out that the limitations are acknowledged because the literature on the matter is limited, as strategic intelligence is relatively new to the business sector; moreover, more research is required to fully understand and use the potential of strategic intelligence in business growth. Overcoming these limitations and continuing to study the strategic intelligence concept could, on the one hand, use multiple platforms, such as scholarly articles or encyclopedias, and, on the other hand, support businesses in gaining a competitive edge and making informed decisions that can fuel their success in an ever-evolving market. Full article

This paper presents a systematic literature review investigating the integration of lightweight blockchain and fog computing technologies to enhance the security and operational efficiency of drones. With a focus on critical applications such as military surveillance and emergency response, this review examines how the combination of blockchain’s secure, decentralized ledger and fog computing’s low-latency, localized data processing can address the unique challenges of drone operations. By compiling and analyzing current research, this study highlights innovative approaches and solutions that leverage these technologies to improve data integrity, reduce communication latency, and facilitate real-time decision-making in drone missions. Our findings underscore the significant potential of this technological integration to advance the capabilities and reliability of drones in high-stakes scenarios. Full article

In the discipline of architecture, there is an established familiarity with the 19th century’s Louis Sullivan’s pithy dictum “form follows function”. The expression has indeed directly and indirectly inspired many authors and movements, especially during the beginning of the 20th century, when objectivity showed its value in improving the progress of the industrial society. Nonetheless, the reception effects of such architecture with the primacy of function were responsible for decisive transformations in architectural form, human behaviour, social transformations and material and technological manoeuvres and gave rise to very rich developments related to form, history and inhabitants’ psychological engagements, among many others. So, what about the reception effects framed in the natural and inhabited environment? Could we make space for a sense of greater need, facing a climate emergency? The present paper brings the example of a bunker’s super-resistant heritage, as a paradigmatic sample of material resistance, that supports the idea that “Function (can) Follow the Form” when re-signifying hard architecture, as is the case with Plan Barron of Defence of Lisbon and Setubal, a recently declassified military heritage set of buildings. The study conducts a critical literature review as a qualitative method of research that groups factors into clusters to give evidence to some conceptual theoretical frameworks: “hardness”; “inheritance”; “object trouvé”; “affordance”; and “empathy”. These concepts become then the basis to frame a new paradigm: function follows form can be a pertinent approach when dealing with super-resistant structures in the present climate crisis. This inverse paragon, well explained, could work as a motto to architects for a new era of global climate action. Full article

Background: Military logistics has been present from the moment a soldier was created, and its evolution has been influenced by the technology used. Indeed, it has been observed over time that every military revolution was intrinsically caused by a military logistics revolution, directly promoted by the technology applied to the manner of making war. Few papers have been written about military logistics in relation to the development of war itself. Its application was conceptualized in two dimensions: as an art and as a science, interdependent on decision-making. With the evolution of human beings, the way of making war also evolved and therefore a transformation was generated. This makes it necessary to deepen the application of mathematical modeling, statistics, and new technologies in military logistics, promoting the application of concepts based on technology to improve the effectiveness of armies. The aim of this paper is to review the evolution of military logistics. Methods: A systematic approach to the literature review is followed. The backgrounds of the military logistics thought, key authors, trends and a new definition of military logistics is presented, among others. Results: The findings allow us to identify a set of 21 definitions of military logistics since 1792. Full article

Growing energy demand worldwide and onshore limitations have increased interest in offshore renewable energy exploitation. A combination of offshore renewable energy resources such as wind and wave energy can produce stable power output at a lower cost compared to a single energy source. Consequently, identifying the best locations for constructing combined offshore renewable energy farms is crucial. This paper investigates the technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects of Combined Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Farm (COWWEF) site selection. Past literature was evaluated using a systematic review method to synthesize, criticize, and categorize study regions, dataset characteristics, constraints, evaluation criteria, and methods used for the site selection procedure. The results showed that most studied regions belong to European countries, and numerical model outputs were mainly used in the literature as met-ocean data due to the limited coverage and low spatiotemporal resolution of buoy and satellite observations. Environmental and marine usage are the main constraints in the site selection process. Among all constraints, shipping lanes, marine protected areas, and military exercise areas were predominately considered to be excluded from the potential sites for COWWEF development. The technical viability and economic feasibility of project deployment are emphasized in the literature. Resource assessment and distance to infrastructures were mostly evaluated among techno-economic criteria. Wind and wave energy power are the most important criteria for evaluating feasibility, followed by water depth, indicators of variability and correlation of the energy resources, and distance to the nearest port. Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods and resource-based analysis were the most-used evaluation frameworks. Resource-based studies mainly used met-ocean datasets to determine site technical and operational performance (i.e., resource availability, variability, and correlation), while MCDM methods were applied when a broader set of criteria were evaluated. Based on the conducted review, it was found that the literature lacks evaluation of seabed conditions (seabed type and slope) and consideration of uncertainty involved in the COWWEF site selection process. In addition, the market analysis and evaluation of environmental impacts of COWWEF development, as well as impacts of climate change on combined exploitation of offshore wind and wave energy, have rarely been investigated and need to be considered in future studies. Finally, by providing a comprehensive repository of synthesized and categorized information and research gaps, this study represents a road map for decision-makers to determine the most suitable locations for COWWEF developments. Full article

As maritime and military missions become more and more complex and multifactorial over the years, there has been a high interest in the research and development of (autonomous) unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Latest efforts concern the modeling and simulation of UUVs’ collaboration in swarm formations, towards obtaining deeper insights related to the critical issues of cybersecurity and interoperability. The research topics, which are constantly emerging in this domain, are closely related to the communication, interoperability, and secure operation of UUVs, as well as to the volume, velocity, variety, and veracity of data transmitted in low bit-rate due to the medium, i.e., the water. This paper reports on specific research topics in the domain of UUVs, emphasizing interoperability and cybersecurity in swarms of UUVs in a military/search-and-rescue setting. The goal of this work is two-fold: a) to review existing methods and tools of semantic modeling and simulation for cybersecurity and interoperability on the Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT), b) to highlight open issues and challenges, towards developing a novel simulation approach to effectively support critical and life-saving decision-making of commanders of military and search-and-rescue operations. Full article