Project: NOMS
Development of the Next-generation Open Mission Systems (NOMS) and the design of next-generation Weapons Mission Planning software.
Objective
The Air Force and Navy are collaboratively working on the NOMS architecture, a cloud-based system designed for Mission Planning software capabilities.
The goal is to develop and deploy advanced mission planning capabilities with a focus on data sharing, automation, and artificial intelligence. The project aims to create a more agile and adaptable system, staying ahead of adversaries in terms of technology. Key objectives include decoupling dependencies, integrating machine learning and AI, automating processes, and enhancing the user experience.
Next-generation Open Mission Systems (NOMS)
This project is highly focused on modernizing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of mission planning software for the United States Air Force and Navy, with an emphasis on cutting-edge technology, user-centered design, and seamless integration of various components for mission planning. The collaboration with various stakeholders and the use of advanced technologies like AI and AR/VR led to significant enhancements in mission planning capabilities.
My Role
UX Researcher & Designer
To ensure that the Weapons Mission Planning software is user-friendly and efficient.
Conduct user research and interviews with the actual end-users (military personnel, mission planners).
Create user personas and user journeys to map out the typical planning processes and identify areas for improvement
Incorporate principles of human-centered design.
Design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that facilitate faster, more efficient mission planning.
My Role
Human Factors Engineer
Focus on optimizing the human-computer interaction aspect of the project.
Apply principles of human factors engineering to enhance the usability and safety of the system.
Conduct usability testing and analysis to ensure that the system is user-friendly and minimizes errors.
Ensure that augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) implementation meets human factors guidelines for visual displays and interactions.
Research methods I use for this project include…
SME Interviews: Gathering insights from subject matter experts.
User Testing: Testing the usability of the software with potential users.
User Journeys: Understanding the paths users take within the system.
Literature: Reviewing existing research and literature on relevant topics.
Team Collaboration
A cross-functional team comprising of subject matter experts (SMEs), system engineers, product managers, and experts from various organizations.
Work closely with subject matter experts (SMEs) to understand the technical and domain-specific aspects of weapons planning.
Collaborate with system engineers to ensure that the microservices align with the overall NOMS architecture.
Engage with product managers to align the development with the project's strategic goals.
Coordinate efforts with other organizations involved, such as LUXCE, Tapestry/Boeing, MTI, and Northrop Grumman.
Solution
Development of core weapons planning capabilities in a microservices architecture.
Integration of machine learning and AI into weapons delivery and threat avoidance.
Increasing process automation to reduce manual intervention in planning.
Creation of a next-generation fly-out model (FOM) service for easy integration of new weapons.
Improving the user experience for weapons planning.
Seamless integration of various planning components, including weapon delivery, modeling and simulation, and weaponeering.
Development of tools for communication line of sight analysis for network-enabled weapons.
Implementation of augmented reality/virtual reality for complex planning.
Seamless integration of cloud services for mission data from multiple sources.s.