The military uses sensors for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in many systems
and thus requires a consistent means for groups or organizations to exchange data acquired from multiple, diverse sensor
types. Standardizing the sensor exchange language permits the reuse of sensor tools and the ability to share and
communicate sensor data among various military systems.
Accomplishment
Sensor data systems are difficult to bring together, and because multiple data formats exist, data fusion is more
difficult still. Traditional, file-based sensor standards are not designed for live streaming of raw sensor data.
Further, the limitations associated with these file-based formats generate geolocation object/target data
inaccuracies. To overcome these limitations, AFRL and IRIS Corporation (Ann Arbor, Michigan) engineers developed
the Transducer Markup Language (TML), an approach both for standardizing sensor data for capture, transport,
archiving, and processing and for enabling sensor data fusion efforts.
AFRL engineers demonstrated TML's capability to read and interpret data from six different sensors (weather station,
motion sensor, camera, Global Positioning System, inertial measurement unit, and digital compass)--all producing
their own data formats, converted to TML and read in TML at a ground station computer for display. As a result
of these demonstrations, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency proposed and supported a Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III effort designed to bring TML to a level where transition is possible.
The SBIR Phase III contract will support transition strategies and risk reduction activities leading both to
operational demonstrations and to participation in the Multiservice Advanced Sensors to Counter Obscured Targets
technology demonstration with US Special Operations Command and US Army Intelligence and Security Command.
Background
Previous sensor systems required a separate interpretation of each individual sensor's output. When merging different
data sources, the custom applications built for each individual sensor system sometimes resulted in unnecessary errors.
TML normalizes sensor data from a user's perspective. Once connected to a network, a TML sensor system permits
authorized users to exchange comprehensible data from that system without building proprietary interfaces to other
processors. A fully enabled TML processor will recognize and process simple sensors (e.g., temperature sensors) as
well as complex sensors (e.g., synthetic aperture radar).
Commercial uses include manufacturing, medical, weather, environmental, and geophysical monitoring--virtually
any application involving a network of sensors requiring interoperability. TML use will thus benefit sensors used
for air, space, surface, and underwater ISR; weather, environmental, and geophysical monitoring; airspace control;
biomedical monitoring; industrial process control; and modeling and simulation.
TML has tremendous implications for facilitating sensor system interoperability and is the key ingredient for
a global sensor network. In its basic form, TML enables "what," "when," and "where" descriptions for each
individual digital sensor sample with very little overhead.
Additional Information
To receive more information about this or other activities in the
Air Force Research Laboratory, contact TECH
CONNECT, AFRL/XPTC, (800) 203-6451 and you will be directed to the appropriate laboratory expert. (SN-S-06-02)
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