Complexity Science and Knowledge Technology for Defence Industry and Military Forces in the 21st Century

Abstract

Complexity of the Internet-based global economy and geo-political/military constellations is growing relentlessly increasing their dynamics and uncertainty. We are engaged in building a global digital network, which connects around 40% of the world population today, whilst 20 years ago, in 1995, it connected less than 1%. The first billion was reached in 2005, the second billion in 2010 and the third billion in 2014. The same network contains vast amount of printed documents, books, magazines, newspapers, films, videos, images, voice recordings and music. And now we are connecting to the network all objects that are useful to us by attaching to them electronic tags that enable these objects to communicate with each other bypassing their users - the Internet of Things. As a result the world has become a highly interconnected Global Village in which no nation, no military force, no industry and no individual can prosper in isolation. We all have to learn how to become a competent participant in social, economic, political and military environments that are perpetually evolving and subject to unpredictable changes. A new science of complexity has recently emerged from the efforts to comprehend and resolve complex issues, which cannot be explained or resolved by laws of conventional, Newtonian science. Digital technology is a powerful tool for discovery, processing, storage, distribution and application of knowledge, and in the Global Village, knowledge is the most important resource for all key activities. The power of Complexity Science and Knowledge Technology is illustrated with practical applications, such as: Families of robots – new discoveries in multi-agent software technology combined with comprehensive sensor and knowledge technology enable design of mobile robots capable of working in space or reaching and destroying targets in complex urban or mountain environments. Co-ordination of power, communication and weapon systems on destroyers – Rapid resolution of conflicting requirements for these three systems can be achieved by collaboration of intelligent software agents each representing a negotiating party and a knowledge base containing information on instantaneous priorities. Defence against cyberattacks – agent-based early warning and rapidly reacting systems are designed to emulate human immune systems. The same technology can be used for protection from hackers. The following are integrated in this presentation to show how inculcating professionalism in radiography profession (one of allied health professions) leads to a healthier nation.