Military researchers to develop artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for future unmanned jet fighters
ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers are asking industry to develop artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for future experimental high-performance unmanned combat aircraft, with en eye to creating future teams of manned and unmanned jet fighters.
Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., have released a broad agency announcement (HR001120S0028) for the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) Technical Area 1: Build Combat Autonomy project.
This project seeks to increase warfighter trust in combat autonomy by automating aerial within-visual-range maneuvering using realistic aircraft.
DARPA will brief industry on the ACE Build Combat Autonomy project from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday 26 March 2020 at the DARPA Conference Center, 675 N. Randolph St., in Arlington, Va.
The ACE Build Combat Autonomy project seeks to advance artificial intelligence technologies for individual and team aerial dogfighting tactics. To do this, DARPA wants to develop an aircraft autonomy able to move to progressively more realistic environments, including live subscale unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and ultimately to full-scale combat aircraft.
The project will develop air combat maneuvering algorithms for within-visual-range air combat maneuvering that involve one-versus-one, two-versus-one, and two-versus-two engagements against adversaries with a broad spectrum of performance.
The ACE program overall seeks to increase trust in combat autonomy using human-machine collaboration in aircraft dogfighting, as well as develop enabling technologies to enhance collaboration among humans and unmanned combat aircraft in a variety of combat scenarios.
The idea is to enable one human pilot to become a more deadly warfighter by leading several semi-autonomous artificially intelligent unmanned aircraft, all from his own cockpit. This would shift the human role from sole operator to system mission commander.
Related: Artificial intelligence (AI) in unmanned vehicles
In particular, ACE aims to enable a pilot to handle a broad, global air command mission while his aircraft and unmanned aircraft team members attack enemy aircraft and ground targets.
Those interested in attending the ACE Build Combat Autonomy industry briefings should register online no later than 19 March 2020 online at https://web.cvent.com/event/2a3ff63e-c462-4fbb-850c-7e799875bf13/summary.
Companies interested in participating in the ACE Build Combat Autonomy project should upload full proposals no later than 30 April 2020 to the DARPA BAA Website at https://baa.darpa.mil.
Email questions or concerns to DARPA at [email protected]. More information is online at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/06abac37e9f0483181f6d3903542843b/view.
