Blue Guardian Open Adaptable Architecture For C4isr

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) - Sensors Directorate Blue Guardian program researches, develops, and demonstrates rapid sensor integration technologies. This includes integration technologies for not only the physical sensors, but also the software, communication, and processing elements. Blue Guardian's approach is to leverage existing baseline open architectures and develop new open architecture and adaptable interface technologies. The resulting integration technology is called the Blue Guardian Open Adaptable Architecture (OA2) and enables development and demonstration of new Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities with reductions in cost, schedule, and integration time. Blue Guardian has grown from a flight test focused program to taking the lessons learned of the difficulties in sensor integration and developing OA2 software and hardware technologies to improve the efficiency and speed of sensor integration. Over the past year, Blue Guardian has teamed with the AFRL Manufacturing and Materials Directorate to integrate OA2 into the AFRL AgilePod. This paper discusses the background for these research efforts, development approach and technical details, highlights OA2, discusses recent test events, and future areas to improve OA2 to improve United States Air Force capabilities!