BattleHawk Modes of Operation
Display Control
The BHC2 software provides the operator with the means to display and achieve the required area of interest, appropriate level of detail, and illumination with minimum impact on the work load of the user.
Map Data Support
The BHCS internal GIS engine supports a wide range of data formats. The system displays both vector and raster maps and charts, as well as geo-referenced satellite and aerial photographic information. When required, the system will provide 3D support, utilizing DTED data to provide the basic contoured map for rendering and analysis.
Overlays
The BHC2 software supports the creation and editing of Overlays, allowing these to be imported and exported from the system via either physical media or electronic transmission over wired or wireless networks.
Overlays are saved as files, and multiple overlays can exist on any system. The overlays are effectively a display layer which can be suppressed to reduce the level of screen data displayed, or to enable viewing of other data independent of the overlay.
Overlays normally consist of lines, areas, tactical symbols and annotation, and may be associated with text messages supporting the overlay viewed via the reports facility.
BattleHawk Navigation Functions
The BHC2 software supports a number of navigation functions:
Routes
The routes function allows the operator to create, edit, save, and delete routes with multiple waypoints. The system supports multiple routes being displayed. Routes are automatically given local identification, but can be named with added descriptive text.
Waypoint Selection
Routes are created using multiple waypoints, which can be created, edited, saved, and deleted as required. Waypoint co-ordinates are displayed in the selected co-ordinate format.
Navigation Aid
When the operator engages a route and selects a waypoint, the system will interrogate the GPS location and heading information (and integrated DMC) to obtain a bearing and distance to the next waypoint. This information is presented graphically as a navigation aid in the top left hand corner of the display.
Situation Awareness (SA)
A primary function of the BHC2 is the provision of SA data in near-real time. The SA data comprises a number of data elements, which, when combined into a single view with foundation data, is subjected to data validation and correlation to form the Common Operation Picture (COP).
The key data elements are:
Blue Force Tracking
The BHC2 system utilises position reporting information from a number of sources. The tracking of friendly assets (Blue Force Tracking) is normally achieved at a local level by the system node, receiving positional updates from local assets directly. It obtains a wider view of friendly force location by SA data disseminated over a wider network of which may have a slower update rate.
The Update rate of the information is not limited by the BHC2 software, but by the communication source utilized for the information.
Update rates for information can be configured, providing a system level configuration, a local level, or by individual asset on configuration. The BHC2 software contains algorithms which will initiate own position reports based on time/speed/distance travelled. However, the own position reports may be initiated by the communications bearer associated with the BHC2 host node.
Track History
The BHC2 software produces a log of track history which can be used to produce a “trail” showing recent positional data. The duration of the trail can be configured to have a specific time or distance travelled.
Tactical Symbology
The system supports the generation of multiple items of tactical data, selecting information from embedded symbol libraries, drawn lines and polygons, markers, annotation and freehand sketch information.
Alarms & Warnings
The BHC2 software provides a number of mechanisms for alerting or warning the operator of system status or tactical situation conditions, such as visual prompts, audio prompts, and indicators. Most system status information is derived from the BIT capability of the system, and the tactical situation-related information is initiated from the BHC21 core application based on analysis of received data.
Reports, Returns & Messaging
The BHC2 software provides the operator with an intuitive interface for the generation, editing, saving, and transmission/receipt of formal reports, returns, and messages.
The message manager provides the operator with facilities to send and receive messages, to manage message storage, assign priority and nominate recipients.
BHC2 supports the structured messages format required to comply with Mil-Std 6017 (VMF) as well as an open format to allow interoperability with non-VMF compliant systems if required.
VMF message creation utilizes templates, and, where possible, significant message data items are populated automatically into the system, such as own position, identification, DTG, vector data etc.
