C2 Self-Synchronisation and Swarming

C2 Self-Synchronisation and Swarming

J Miles

June 2008

Unclassified© Dstl 2008

19 April 2023Dstl is part of the Ministry of Defence

Contents

• Discussion regarding alternative forms of synchronisation

• Characteristics of swarming

• Historical examples of swarming behaviour

• The appropriateness of self-synchronisation and swarming behaviour in the context of the maritime environment



Alternative forms of synchronisation

• Hierarchical

• Mutual

• Self

or

or or



Entity Y

Synchronisation point

a

Entity Y


Higher Authority

supervision

b

Entity Y


c

Entity status

Entity status Entity status

KeyInfo Pull

Feedback

Synchronisingactivity

Entity Y


a

Entity Y


supervision

b

Entity Y


c

Higher

Entity status

Entity Y


Entity Y


c

Authority

Entity status

Entity status Entity status

KeyInfo Pull

Feedback

Synchronisingactivity

Entity XEntity X Entity X



1 2


HigherAuthority

Entity statusEntity status

Entity YEntity X


HigherAuthority


Entity Y

Higher Authority

Entity X


HigherAuthority


Entity YEntity X

Mutual Synchronisation


HigherAuthority


Entity YEntity X

Mutual Synchronisation

Higher Authority



––Self synchronisation

Mutual synchronisation

- peer Swarming behaviour

Synchronisation process

ChaosHierarchical

synchronisationUncoordinated

activity

Co

ntr

ol

-

+


Self synchronisation

Mutual synchronisation

- peer Mutual synchronisation

- peer Swarming behaviourSwarming behaviour


ChaosHierarchical

synchronisationHierarchical

synchronisationUncoordinated

activityUncoordinated

activity

Co

ntr

ol

-

+

synchronisation


synchronisationsynchronisation


Direct


Mutual - peer Swarming behaviour Chaos

Hierarchical synchronisation

Uncoordinatedactivity

Co

ord

ina

tio

n

-

+

IndirectDirect


Self synchronisation

Mutual - peer Mutual - peer Swarming behaviourSwarming behaviour Chaos





Co

ord

ina

tio

n

-

+

Indirect



Swarming

• An extreme form of self-synchronisation

• "The systematic pulsing of force and / or fire by dispersed networked units, so as to strike the adversary from all directions simultaneously.” 1

• The 'emergence' of macro-behaviour - based on the totality of self-synchronised micro-behaviour.

1 (Arquilla, Ronfeldt, Swarming and the future of conflict, RAND Corporation 2000)



Swarming Characteristics

• A number (usually many) of low-level components with specialised functions;

• multistability – flexible agile capability through clustering of function;

• Bifurcation – rapid change of function

• Coordination achieved through indirect interaction – very localised SA;

• Survival of the collective takes precedence over individual components.



Military swarming

• Massed Swarm, implies a convergent attack as a primary manoeuvre

– Convergent attack

• Encircling and surrounding an adversary• cuts off the adversary’s lines of supply • destroys morale • prevents any possible retreat



Examples of swarming behaviour

• Battle of the Atlantic – U Boat “Wolf Pack” operations (1939–1945)

• RN Coastal Defence Force (1939-45)

• Battle of the Pacific, kamikaze air attacks (1944-45)

• FIAC swarms (present day)

• Other applications e.g. social swarming



Appropriateness of swarming behaviour in Military Operations

• behaviour cannot be controlled, only influenced through prior communication of Command Intent and ROE.

• non-linear process – very short-term prediction of behaviour

• Large numbers of platforms





300m

50m

2m

…36

1

2

Etc.

300m

50m

2m

…36

1

2

Etc.



Constraints

• Small platforms not “ocean-going”

• Transport assistance from larger platforms

• Sustainment requirements:– sufficient crew numbers for the force to operate 24/7;

– Maintenance 24/7;

– Therefore difficult to achieve sufficient numbers of maritime swarm components in the zone of operations



Conclusions

• Much NCW / NEC literature / discussion is phrased as though this is a blank canvas and self-synchronisation is a new concept. This is not the case.

• The swarming concept needs to accept :

– large numbers of units

– less direct control of the self-synchronising / swarming force

– less detailed plans

– self-synchronising / swarming SA is different from conventional SA

• difficult to see how a future maritime force could apply offensive swarming in expeditionary operations

• if maritime aircraft and UXVs were to be included in the force then the potential for swarming operations increases.

Questions

Documents

C2 Self-Synchronisation and Swarming