Innovation Integration Impact

Innovation. Integration. Impact. These are the key factors driving DRDC Toronto.

DRDC Toronto is one of seven research centres within Defence Research and Development Canada, an agency of the Department of National Defence. DRDC is a world leader in contributing directly to the advancement of defence and national security.  Applying state-of-the-art knowledge and technologies, DRDC is a driver for change in the 21^st century as the spectrum of operations demanded of our defence and security forces, and those of our allies, becomes increasingly complex.

DRDC is internationally recognized for the impact its innovative, integrated services are having on the future of defence and security. Inside the Toronto centre of DRDC, there is a keen sense of the future as more than 200 scientists, technicians, military and support personnel apply their skills in integrated human effectiveness science and technology.

The centre’s roots go back to 1939 when a research committee was formed to address the needs of wartime.  Sir Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin, chaired the committee. The Franks Flying Suit, the first anti-G suit used in wartime service, resulted from this research.

DRDC Toronto’s innovative research agenda is driven by the goal of becoming the world leader in integrated human effectiveness science and technology in defence and security.  This is accomplished by starting with a whole human research approach targeting the individual, extending this to how individuals and teams work together in a collective, and integrating both individuals and collectives with systems and machines for maximum impact.

This whole human approach to human factors research starts with examining how the mental, the physical, and the emotional affect individual human performance and effectiveness.  Individual Readiness focuses on ways of enhancing individual performance in difficult situations within air, sea, land and urban environments.

These environments often present challenges to the individual such as fatigue…situational uncertainty…intellectual impairment…deployment hardships…high-level noise exposure…thermal and physical distress…and disorientation.

Building on this research into the individual, DRDC Toronto looks at the enhancement of the performance of an individual in a team and how teams perform.  Collaborative Performance and Learning provides defence and domestic security partners with the knowledge and skills to participate as team members in Joint, Interagency, and Multinational operations.

Research in this area concentrates on the social and intellectual aspects of collaboration and organizational behaviour as well as learning and training for effective performance in such environments.

The results of this research into the individual and collective are then applied to the interaction of humans and technological systems. Human Systems Integration researches and provides advice on developing socio-technical systems for dealing with modern-day conflict.

 It strives to increase the overall effectiveness of human-operated systems by applying its research to areas such as the acquisition and design of equipment…advanced human-technology interfaces…human systems engineering…soldier system integration…and enhanced decision-making. Outcomes of this research are the simulation and modeling of humans in complex military systems … the enhancement of human performance in hazardous, stressful environments… and systems that integrate humans and machines.

DRDC Toronto’s scientists delve into human issues in command and control… team performance and collaborative behaviour… the psychological and social sciences… and the new frontier of research into adversarial intent.

Adversarial Intent researches ways to forecast malicious intent in potential adversaries with the aim of creating and sharing methods to counter such intent. Adversarial Intent identifies psychological, cultural, political, economic, and other factors that might motivate an individual, group, organization or state to become Canada’s adversary. This work becomes increasingly important as we face national security threats that include failed and failing states, and global terrorism. Outcomes will include tools to allow defence and security to better understand the impact of social/cultural factors, and ensuring that these tools are transferable and applicable in future contexts.

DRDC Toronto’s research spans the range of human factors from individual, collective, to systems and adversarial intent, in order to provide maximum science and technology impact to the Canadian Forces and other partners. The relationship between DRDC and the Canadian Forces is enhanced through the co-location at DRDC Toronto of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, or CFEME. CFEME personnel enhance DRDC Toronto’s research program by operating  the Aerospace and Undersea Medical Science Centre, or AUMS.

AUMS provides direct support to the Canadian Forces through research, advice, testing and evaluation…and training in undersea… and aerospace environments…CFEME personnel contribute to projects that look at integration of new equipment and technologies for land forces personnel... as well as providing critical capability in logistical and IT roles

To administer this vast range of research in defence and security, DRDC’s Corporate Services are responsible for the maintenance of the facilities of the extensive Toronto campus …  IT services …  recruitment and staffing … procurement and contracting … .  Due to the work in this area, DRDC is regarded as a model of government procurement and contracting.

The human effectiveness research output of the centre is applied though DRDC Toronto’s Human Effectiveness Experimentation Centre, or HEEC. The HEEC represents the mechanism to exploit DRDC Toronto’s science and technology results in integrated human effectiveness.  HEEC also manages the world-class facilities located at the centre that can be used to simulate a broad range of operational environments. Nowhere else in Canada, and in few places around the world, can these facilities be equalled.

 In addition to DRDC Toronto’s outstanding research to support the Canadian Forces, the centre works with defence and security partners in … other government agencies… academia… the private sector... and international allies through bilateral and multilateral research programs. 

These partnerships allow DRDC Toronto to access a wide base of knowledge and remain on the cutting edge of national and global innovation. The knowledge shared and obtained through such partnerships multiplies the impact of DRDC’s research program.

To provide the legal and management framework for partnering with external clients in academia, industry and all levels of government within Canada and internationally, DRDC Toronto established The Human Sciences Hub. The Hub offers the services of DRDC Toronto through short-term, project specific agreements, or long-term partnership arrangements.

DRDC Toronto has an impressive track record. It is world famous for the quality and scope of its research, the expertise of its staff, and the range of its facilities. To realize how important the services and expertise of DRDC are, there is no need to look further than... DRDC’s support for current Canadian Forces operations... ...or the role of DRDC in providing science and technology to support first responders for major events, DRDC Toronto is always ready to welcome new partners.  DRDC will continue to enhance Canada’s reputation in the sciences, continue to serve Canada and its allies in their defence and security roles, and continue to support the Canadian economy through the transfer of technology and knowledge.

Innovation. Integration. Impact. This is how DRDC Toronto will maintain its role as a world leader in integrated human effectiveness science and technology in defence and security.