Command, Power and Integration Directorate

CP&ID-developed capabilities ensure that U.S. Soldiers are the decisive force by enabling them to make quick and accurate decisions based on high-quality, relevant information.

CERDEC CP&ID researches, develops and delivers software and hardware systems that provide needed current and future mission command capabilities.

To maximize the Army’s operational agility, CP&ID focuses its efforts on a wide range of technologies that include software development, information management, computer platforms, power systems, power management, navigation and precision timing.

CERDEC CP&ID researches, develops and transitions technologies to provide information management capabilities that better enable squads to achieve tactical overmatch, avoid surprise, increase lethality, improve survival and increase mission effectiveness - all while emphasizing the assurance that the Soldier receives the needed information at the right time.

• Decision Support Tools: CP&ID delivers applications that enable Soldiers to make better decisions by helping them recognize when decisions need to be made and by providing information to improve decision making.

A critical element to mission success involves Soldiers knowing where they are located and how to find their way to another location. As a result CERDEC CP&ID conducts research and development in the areas of position determination, navigation and precision timing for capabilities delivered on complex battlefields where enemy forces actively work to disrupt U.S. situational awareness capabilities.

• Warfighter Integrated Navigation System (WINS): WINS brings together GPS, inertial and radio frequency ranging technologies to accurately maintain position when GPS is unavailable or cannot be trusted.
• Chip-Scale Atomic Clocks: Many of the Army’s essential capabilities require an accurate time base. For example, modern radio communications would not work without highly accurate timing. CP&ID engineers have worked to enable the production of low-cost micro-sized atomic clocks in order to provide highly accurate timing.
• Blue Force Electronic Attack: CP&ID engineers research and develop technologies that enable mission planning for both offensive and defensive manipulation of GPS signals. CP&ID develops software projects to enable GPS in areas where GPS may be denied and assists in the placement of pseudo-satellites to augment GPS.

Computing Platforms play an essential role in supporting Mission Command. CP&ID researchers develop and apply advances in computer science, operating systems, distributed computing and computer networking to provide the computing environments needed to run the advanced software used by Army systems.

CP&ID research in the areas of form-fitting batteries and Soldier-carried power management systems helps to lighten the load that Soldiers must carry yet still meet the ever increasing power demands associated with modern Soldier systems.

• Conformal Batteries: To make it easier for Soldiers to carry batteries, CP&ID engineers have designed battery systems that conform to the human body and virtually become part of the Soldier’s battle dress in order to make movement easier and increase survivability.

Normally, Soldiers must transport energy in the form of fuel or batteries, which can cause difficult logistical problems. CP&ID research in renewable energy sources has demonstrated viable ways Soldiers can generate their own power to avoid energy transportation.

• Solar Power: CP&ID engineers have demonstrated Soldier solar power capabilities ranging from solar cells on Soldier backpacks, to solar cells deployed on large ground mats, to large vehicle-borne solar arrays that are hydraulically deployed. Coupled with batteries these systems can provide power even when the sun is not shining.
• Wind Power: CP&ID engineers have developed a complete, lightweight carbon fiber technology wind power system that a Soldier can carry. The deployable mast positions the generator 30 feet in the air and drives batteries for energy storage.
• Energy Harvesting: CP&ID engineers have demonstrated that another important source of energy may be Soldiers themselves. By gathering "wasted" energy such as movement while walking, CP&ID research has shown that sufficient energy can be found to run modern, low-power computing devices.

Practical limits to conventional power systems such as chemical batteries exist due to well-understood limits imposed by physics. CP&ID engineers realize that the answers to Army power needs lie in a mixture of better power sources and the intelligent management of the power that is generated and used.

• Energy Informed Operations: CP&ID researchers combine computers, power and protocols to produce advanced intelligent grids. By making power generation, storage, conversion and transmission components "smart," CP&ID engineers have demonstrated that power grids can work with energy consumers to optimize efficiency while delivering needed Army capability.

CP&ID provides engineering design, consultation and expert support services for C4ISR platform systems integration including design, fabrication, installation, integration, environmental testing and fielding support.