Page 13 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, Aug 3 2018

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High Desert Warrior August 3, 2018
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Sgt. Jesus Valencia and Spc. Cameron Hodges of the California Army National Guard’s 270th Military Police Company, 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, secure a checkpoint July 29, 2018 at the Keswick Dam in Redding, Calif., shortly after the Carr Fire passed through the area.
From Carr Fire, Page 12
Army National Guard
Army photograph by Eddie Sigenza
we’re helping the community in this time of need. We’re going to do our jobs professionally so local law enforcement can handle their responsibilities.”
More than 500 California Guardsmen from the 143rd Infantry Regiment were training for hand crew missions. Teams will be reporting to Redding in the upcoming days, adding to Cal Guard’s support for ground operations. The hand crews will work areas already burned by the Carr Fire, extinguishing hots spots to prevent fire flare-ups.
The Carr Fire is one of more than a dozen active wild fires currently scorching California, and it’s not usually until August (or later) when major fires historically occur.
Per CAL FIRE, from Jan. 1 to July 22, 2018, there have been about 3,400 fires that burned about 100,000 acres. There have been more than 4,000 California fires this year combined, ac- cording to the U.S. Forest Service.
Army photograph by Eddie Sigenza
Firefighters from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) Task Force 4231 out of Modesto, Calif., rest July 29, 2018 and watch California Army National Guard forces move in to support recovery operations during the Carr Fire in Redding, Calif.
Single multimodal android service for human computer interaction — SMASH
In an effort to improve TCE’s accessibility to make it easier for Soldiers to use in any envi- ronment, CERDEC has been developing the Single Multimodal Android Service for Human Computer Interaction tool, or HCI SMASH.
By incorporating automatic speech recognition software that interacts with the TCE, HCI SMASH allows Soldiers to navigate or input information into the system using only their voice, said Dan Lenhardt, lead HCI SMASH engineer.
“Most of our focus is all mounted and dismounted capabilities,” Lenhardt said. “So, [we’re] trying to make systems use for units to use while on the move.”
The HCI SMASH software is fully integrated into TCE-enabled devices, which is a core difference when you compare SMASH to other commercial capabilities, Lenhardt said. By incorporating SMASH, it eliminates the need for the software to reach back to a server, similar to what an Amazon or Google device might do.
Energy informed operations
Rounding out CERDEC’s technology improvements for command posts is an integrated software and hardware power system application with built-in intelligence that is capable of prioritizing power resources according to mission needs, officials said.
“The challenge we have today is, how do we enable the Soldier to move at the speed of battle with their current power solution, [and] how do they maintain it wherever they are, regardless of their expertise?” said Michael Gonzalez, the CERDEC lead for energy informed operations.
The EIO program incorporates a tactical microgrid system that allows personnel to monitor and manage their power systems interactively. The microgrid’s internal software and algorithms are built into the system to control the different power and distribution sources, while the user interface provides Soldiers with situational awareness, Gonzales said.
Overall, the smart system is said to reduce the number of generators, fuel usage, and overloads.
Eventually, the goal of EIO is to make the power network more “plug and play,” Gonzales said. In turn, EIO is looking into new ways to integrate nontraditional power sources seamlessly -- like commercial generators or vehicles -- to provide Soldiers with efficient and reliable power.
From CERDEC, Page 11
Army photograph
The Unified Voice Management System is a prototype equipment package that was designed to provide an interoperable solution for radio, digital telephones, and other computer-based or voice software applications.
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil