ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to integrate fundamental cognitive theories into a usable and explanatory model for combat identification. To help capture why some types of misidentification problems occur, it looks to feature integration theory, recognition by components theory and working memory theory. One factor related to target misidentification is known as the fog of war. It is important for members of any modern military to quickly and reliably discriminate between friendly and enemy vehicles. Misidentification may be a result of many different factors inadequate training, confusion during battle, decision-making under pressure, or stimulus similarities among friendly and enemy vehicles. Whether from the sensor of an unmanned vehicle, a photograph from a reconnaissance plane, or a soldier's direct line of sight in the field; many factors influence the ability to correctly identify vehicles. The Shape Memory Test has been found to be moderately reliable.
