Air force techs at Wright Patterson AFB working to protect troops from IEDs

Fred Irving

In an effort to save lives, the Air Force Research Laboratory of the 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Directorate at Wright Patterson AFB has developed a new computer program that could better protect troops from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in war zones.

Dubbing the software, Risk Assessment for Frontline Troops (RAFT), the designers have developed a program that mines information from existing databases to determine patterns of bomb placement, providing troops an upper hand when predicting where an IED may be hidden.

"Our goal is to combine the software with existing systems that allow the mission planner to plan missions with the lowest possible risk based on a number of factors," John Plaga, Technical Monitor for RAFT, told the military press. "Those factors include number of vehicles and troops, routes taken, past IED incidents, weather conditions and social issues."

By integrating previous battle statistics and bombing patterns, the software will help soldiers plan routes and recognize danger zones across Iraq and Afghanistan.

Plaga tells the news provider that the program will feature an open-system architecture, allowing for the integration of multiple upgrades and new sources of input as they develop.

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