Two-Way, Freeform, Speech-to-Speech Translation Systems for Tactical Use

The Lab evaluations assessed the TRANSTAC systems in a heavily controlled environment that features no background noise and stationary participants (both sitting and standing). This type of venue enables the technology developers to gauge the best the systems can perform at their current state of maturity. There were 17 spontaneous scenarios for the Lab evaluation that the test subjects performed in 15- to 25-minute timeframes. Depending upon the scenario, the speakers were seated across from one another at a table or stood across from one another with the English-speaker holding and controlling the Nexus One. The English-speaking Marines were assigned specific scenarios based upon their deployment experiences. All of the Pashto speakers had experience as interpreters in Afghanistan and/or as role players in training exercises.

The goal of the Field evaluations was to assess the TRANSTAC systems in a more realistic environment. The Field evaluations introduced uncontrolled ambient background noise, sunlight, and wind. The Marines carried the TRANSTAC technologies where some featured external, human-attachable speakers and were allowed to move around within their scenario station. Three unique scenario stations were simulated including a truck to support a vehicle checkpoint and forward operating base entry control point scenarios, an area to simulate a local national’s home to support census and medical conversations, and another area to simulate a facility in support of facility inspection and combined operations planning dialogues. The Marines and Pashto speakers performed eight spontaneous scenarios in the field where a scribe was employed in the same manner as was done in the lab evaluations.

This work was done by Brian A. Weiss and Craig I. Schlenoff of the National Institute of Standards and Technology for DARPA. DARPA-0012