DSTO is Offering 5 Exciting Post
Graduate (Coursework) Scholarship Opportunities in 2005 to
Computer Science/Systems
Engineering/Software Development Graduates
Postgraduates
wishing to join the next generation of
innovators can apply for any of the 5 scholarships
based project opportunities listed below.
Successful applicants will undertake a 12months
project in 2005 with DSTO, through the
The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is the science and technology arm of the civilian Department
of Defence. For further information on DSTO visit www.dsto.defence.gov.au
Eligibile graduates may apply for 1 or more of the 5
positions available, to be eligibile graduates must hold an appropriate degree,
be an Australian citizen and be able to successfully undergo a security
clearance.
The Projects on offer from DSTO are:
1.
Creation of
new soldier capabilities within a commercial computer-based infancy simulation
software - Project reference G-1
Objective
of project:
The
Land Operation Division’s Future Combat Systems Performance task (ARM 03/113)
wishes to determine the benefit of introducing a number of new capabilities to
the dismounted soldier, including UAVs, reconnaissance robots, ‘through the
wall’ radar and live feeds of head-mounted video cameras to platoon commanders,
amongst others. “These new capabilities are being investigated for possible
inclusion in a future suite of equipment for the dismounted soldier”. In order
to characterise the benefits offered by these new capabilities before they are
actualised in hardware, the task seeks to model them using real soldiers taking
part in a virtual battle using military computer simulation software. The
software is the Virtual Battlefield System (VBS) and is based on the
computer game called Operation Flashpoint. VBS allows new and unique
hardware to be created and used within the game.
The
aim of the project is the development of these new capabilities within the VBS
environment and act as technical lead on research being carried out using this
software in LOD’s First Person Gaming Lab.
Graduate
Requirements
q
A qualification in software programming
q
Must be able to program in the VBS/Operation
Flashpoint
q
Able to work methodically and autonomously
q
Highly developed communication skills
2.
Development of
a Simulation Tool for the Study of Complex Warfighting - Project
reference G-2
Objective
of project:
DSTO has limited
capability in the modelling of complex warfighting where cultural and other
‘non-military’ issues have a tangible effect on the outcome. Agent based
simulations have the potential to represent behaviours resulting from these
cultural aspects of conflict however; this potential has not yet been
exploited. This project will consider the enhancement of the Land Operations Division
(LOD) BactorWars agent based simulation to better investigate complex
warfighting. At the conclusion of the project it is planned that aspects of a
real world conflict, such as the current situation in
The projects directly supports the Land
Future Studies Mission by providing a tool that will enable researchers to
investigate future warfighting concepts in a flexible and creative manner. The
outcomes will also support the wider Agent based simulation community by
contributing to the USMC Project Albert. The project will provide the student
with experience in the application of theory to a real world software
engineering project.
Graduate
Requirements
q
A qualification in Computer Science or Software
Engineering
q Creativity with excellent object-oriented theory in the use of Java
q
An interest in developing
their skill base to include aspects of the language including Java Web Start
and JNLP, JavaHelp, the Piccolo user interface API and web page design.
q
Able to work with a small
team of analysts and software engineers to directly achieve goals from military
sponsors.
3.
Intelligent
Agent for Synthetic Environments - Project
reference G-3
Objective
of project:
Land
Operations Division undertakes experimentation of military concepts in order to
assist the Australian Army with
validation and development of doctrine.
Part of the experimentation is carried out
in the Synthetic Environment Research Facility (SERF) that uses human-in-the-loop
virtual simulators connected to a
constructive wargame in order to stimulate human participants playing the roles
of military operators and commanders in the experiments.
The
aim of this work package is to investigate methods and approaches for modelling
advanced human behaviours within the wargame in order to achieve a coherence
and consistency between the wargame and human-in-the-loop virtual simulators.
The
research outcome is an intelligent agent prototype, which incorporates
cognitive and logical processors such as decision making, reasoning, data
manipulation, logistic calculations, etc. Such an agent can help reduce
workload of the human commanders, thus allowing them to concentrate on
high-level decisions and coordinate the battle.
Graduate
Requirements
q A Bachelor of
Computer Science/ Engineering and Software Design & Architecture (Desirable
skills are, software design & architecture, programming in intelligent
agents and familiar in Java programming and Linux).
q
A desirable knowledge in intelligent agents or
artificial intelligence
q
Ability to work unsupervised with good
communication and interpersonal skills
q
A Willingness to learn JACK programming (a Java
script) at the beginning of the project.
4.
Visualisation
Simulation Tool Development - Project G-4
Objective
of project:
The
project will involve the creation of a military platform and personnel
identification visualisation simulation tool that will enable human-in-the-loop
experimentation to determine the impact on decision cycles caused by emerging
Combat Identification (CID) technologies. The tool would initially be used as
part of an experiment aiming to analyse the decision-making cycle of a military
weapon system operator about to engage a ground vehicle target.
Graduate
Requirements
q A Bachelor of
Computer Science (The student would ideally have a background
in the Java programming language and programming techniques, with a keen
interest in systems analysis and systems engineering)
q Posses
skills enabling them to firstly manipulate 3D models of military vehicles and
personnel using “3dsmax” to produce 2D images, and then incorporating these
images and image manipulations processes into the broader visualisation
simulation tool.
q Good
communication skills and ability to interact with military personnel during the
project’s development
5.
Land Tactical
Command and Control Architecture - Project
G-5
Objective of project,
specification and timetable:
Land tactical command and control architecture description products
that can be used as a blue print for any future C2 system development.
Four
tactical information networks are proposed in the Objective Force C2
paper. These networks will need to be
integrated at appropriate places to form a single virtual network in support of
Network Centric Warfare. Next year, the
Land Tactical Command and Control task is going to use an architectural based
approach, first to propose retrofit solutions to achieve network integration
under current constraints (to be completed by 30/06/2005) and then to propose
an architecture for a single virtual network as a blue print for any future C2
system development (to be completed by 31/12/2005). The student under supervision will be
responsible for generating architecture products using Defence endorsed tools. The student is expected to gain a thorough
understanding of the Defence Architecture Framework, become efficient in using
architecture tools (e.g. CAT and System Architect), populate the database and
generate products, and finally report the results.
Graduate
Requirements
q
Bachelor of Engineering,
Major in Systems Engineering or Information Systems
q
Highly motivated with an
ability to work unsupervised, and well developed
communication and interpersonal skills.
Project
Location
All
successful candidates will be based at DSTO Land Operations Division, at DSTO’s
How to
apply
Applications “quoting project reference
number(s) and project title” including current resume are to be submitted
by email to tania.johnson@adelaide.edu.au by
For Further information, please
contact Des Masters or Tania Johnson, Office
of Industry Liaison, Thebarton Campus on 8303 4159 or 8303 4467