Distribution and Retrograde Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX) Management (DRAM)

DRAM is a multi-year S&T effort sponsored by Army Futures Command, field tested by the 21st Theater Sustainment Command (TSC), and currently being operationalized by the 21st TSC in support of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. DRAM provides an Adaptive Planning and Execution (APEX) capability to assist movement control experts in planning theater-level movements and managing the execution of those movements. DRAM leverages intelligent software agents serving as “virtual staff” to support movement personnel and provide near-real-time situational awareness to commanders and staff at all echelons. DRAM’s “Digital Living Plan” integrates essential mission plans, resource requirements, and situational information into representations that are understood and reasoned over by humans and machines alike.

21ST TSC Operationalization of DRAM Video

What is It?

  • A well-tested example of Cougaar Software, Inc.’s Digital Living Plan concept.
  • An automated course of action development based on commander’s priorities and approved criteria.
  • Artificial intelligence is used to extract value from data and make informed decisions in time-critical situations.
  • DRAM automates detailed planning tasks, allowing planners to concentrate on tasks that require human judgment and specialized knowledge.
  • Distribution network creation and management enabling reasoning over multimodal distribution requirements.
  • Movement plan execution management, including alerts to designated plan variation/deviation.

How Does It Work?

  • Rich semantic representation of a Digital Living Plan allows DRAM to reason over mission details (Who, What, Where, When, Why & How)
  • Intelligent agents monitor battlespace and mission execution to maintain shared situational awareness between movement control experts, commanders, and staff

What Will It Accomplish?

  • Automated support for integration of concurrent mission planning, assessment & execution.
  • Enhances and refines network planning and management capability, including route representation, management, visualization, and route planning functions.
  • Allows users to define and modify the capabilities of and use of lines of communication in the area of operations, supporting both the parameters of nodes (cities, facilities, and support areas) and links (roads/rail).
  • Single source of authoritative situational awareness.
  • Decision Support to mission command and control, primarily related to sustainment logistics.

For more information, please read the DRAM Overview.