Warfighter Effectiveness Research Center (WERC)
Since 2015, the WERC’s motto has been “developing tomorrow’s leaders with today’s warfighter research.”
Cadets, faculty, staff, and external collaborators engaged in this research conduct basic and applied studies in human-machine teaming, trust in autonomy, the science of influence and the will to fight, ethical and trustworthy social robotics, wearable technology, and use of virtual and mixed reality systems in training and operations. As part of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, the WERC examines human, team, and organizational performance with these new tools and artificial teammates in laboratory and real-world mission environments. Current collaborators include government laboratories, academia, industry and military operators — all dedicated to the same warfighter-focused approach to science and technology.
WERC in the News:
- Cadet team conducts robotics research
- USAFA WERC wins large multi university research grant (MURI)!
- WERC to leverage new robot dog to study, model future tech
- Professor prepares warfighters using advanced technology, behavioral science research
- “Behind the Curtain: The Warfighter Effectiveness Research Center”
- WERC cadets developing and testing sensor tech for special ops
Outcomes
The WERC engages cadets with real-world projects to research and design solutions for current and future operational missions. As cadets work together on these projects, they develop knowledge and skills towards the following outcomes:
Primary:
- Scientific Reasoning
- Respect for Human Dignity
- Leadership, Teamwork, & Org Dev
- Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
- Warrior Ethos
- Clear Communication
Secondary:
- The Human Condition, Culture, & Societies
- Engineering Methods
Core Competencies
- Systematically develop cadets to think more scientifically, innovatively design technology and operate on the battlefields of future conflict
- Fuse interdisciplinary methodologies to understand and develop future human-autonomy systems for effective and ethical performance
- Integrate robust objective, subjective, and physiological measurement of concepts, strategies, and technologies into real-world mission environments
- Understand the social, psychological, and physiological mechanisms of influence and assist with its use in the human/ information domain
Major Projects
- Robots as ethical social agents in human-machine teaming contexts
- Autonomous driving using the Tesla Research Vehicle
- Future Warrior: Wearable Technology & Human State Monitoring
- Pilot Training Next – Experimental: Using VR and XR in future training
- Cross-cultural research towards understanding the will to fight and assisting real-world influence operation
Contact Us
WERC Director:
Dr. Richard Niemeyer
Richard.Niemeyer@afacademy.af.edu
(719) 333-7991