Map-centric functionality.

Situational awareness is key in ensuring mission effectiveness and operational safety. An interactive map serves as the primary situational awareness component of VCS-4586. It provides real-time geo-referenced position and direction information of all operational components including vehicles, sensors and data links. By clicking directly on the map, the operator can:

  • Assume system-wide control of a vehicle/sensor in a multiple vehicle/sensor operation 
  • Specify a heading or loiter point for a vehicle 
  • Specify a stare-point location for an EO/IR sensor
  • Define and modify mission waypoints 
  • Capture and save screenshot of map (JPG, BMP, PNG, XPM, NITF2.1 with metadata) 
  • Adjust map zoom from 13% to 800% 

Design based on commonly used standards.

Every application and mission is unique. To accommodate a wide range of common standards and operator preferences, the map supports: 

  • Latitude and longitude (DMS, DMM), MGRS and UTM coordinate systems 
  • Over 30 commonly used geodetic datums (WGS84, NAD27, etc.) 
  • Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) Level 0, Level 1, Level 2
  • Import of National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) raster formats (ADRG, CADRG, CIB)
  • Common Operating Picture (COP)
  • MIL-STD-2525B symbols and tactical graphics
  • Importing of scanned maps, digital maps, satellite imagery, and other geo-referenced imagery

Manage targets, restriction zones and points of interest with object layers.

The various dynamic entities that appear on the map are organized into object layers. Object layers are used to facilitate and enhance situational awareness by showing the operator information necessary for the mission. VCS-4586 allows a high level of interaction with the various objects appearing on the map enabling operators to: 

  • Designate and manage lists of targets and points of interest 
  • Use the MIL-STD-2525B symbol set to designate hostile, friendly, neutral and unknown targets 
  • Command an EO/IR or Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensor to monitor a designated target or point of interest 
  • Send a Tactical Communication (TACCOM) message with target information through C4I infrastructure 
  • Specify multi-sided “no-fly” and “no-look” zones 
  • Interface with external third-party applications through the API to display customized overlays on map
  • De-clutter map by specifying which layers or information to hide