Trend: Autonomy & AI

U-2 Flies with Booz Allen Hamilton Artificial Intelligence Algorithm

A Lockheed Martin U-2 Dragon reconnaissance aircraft used an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm by Booz Allen Hamilton in flight on Dec. 15, the company said Jan. 6. The flight came in support of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s U-2 Federal Laboratory at Beale AFB, Calif. The U.S. Air Force said that the Dec. 15 flight was the first time […]

Artificial Intelligence Used as Co-Pilot for Autonomous U.S. Air Force U-2 Spy Plane Flight

In what the U.S. Air Force said was the first time artificial intelligence (AI) has commanded a military system, an AI algorithm helped to steer the radar of a Lockheed Martin U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and navigate the plane in a Dec. 15 flight from Beale AFB, Caif. Some of the 27 operational U-2s carry the Raytheon Advanced […]

How Is the Aviation Industry Enabling Innovation with Artificial Intelligence?

Ready or not the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in aviation is here. Industry professionals say the use of AI/ML can increase speed, efficiency, workload, and safety to enable more complex technology like autonomous vision-based navigation and data ecosystems.  During a Dec. 9 Global Symposium on the Implementation of Innovation in […]

Aevum’s Ravn X Drone to Offer Rapid Launches to Low-Earth Orbit

Alabama-based Aevum Inc.’s Ravn X drone plans to offer the U.S. Space Force and other customers launches to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) within three hours of tasking. The 80-foot, 55,000-pound drone with a wingspan of 60 feet is to have second and third stages that will carry payloads up to 500 kg. to LEO. The Ravn […]

Future of Aerospace Startups Q&A with Starburst Aerospace CEO

The aerospace industry is not short on innovation, however, turning a small startup into a breakthrough company in an industry this large and diverse is challenging. Francois Chopard, CEO of Starburst Aerospace, a global aerospace and defense accelerator that connects industry and government with startups, shared his expertise in the industry with Aviation Today. Starburst […]

Pentagon Needs to Establish ‘Internet of Military Things,’ Air Force Acquisition Chief Says

Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper said on Dec. 7 that a crisis will likely force the Pentagon to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and ways to involve commercial start-up innovators in scaling up AI quickly. “I think creating a true militarized Internet across our military platforms–an Internet of Military Things–is going to put us face […]

How the UK Royal Navy is Researching the Use of Drones for Delivering Supplies and Data Transmissions

During the Littoral Response Group (Experimentation) (LRG(X)), the Royal Navy conducted over 40 different experiments during nine real-time exercises in Cyprus to develop the Future Navy and Future Commando Force (FCF), a modernization project that will change how Royal Marines operate in future battlefields. A key to the battlefield of tomorrow showcased in the experiments […]

‘White Box’ Likely a Key in Future AI Aviation Use

While artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) is a priority for technologists seeking to advance military, civil and commercial aerospace, machines will not likely be running the air and space domains any time soon. AI/ML algorithms so far lack the cognitive abilities required to make trusted, safety-critical decisions. In terms of “general artificial intelligence,” aviation authorities and […]

Daedalean Explains Path to Safety-Critical Certification for Artificial Intelligence in Avionics

Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) continue to be a black box for many in the aviation industry, Luuk van Dijk, founder and CEO of Daedalean, said during a Revolution.Aero Town Hall. However, van Dijk sees AI/ML as a way to simplify aviation operations and improve on current human piloting capabilities all […]

US Air Force Considering Possible Autonomous, Stealth Attributes for Future Tanker

The U.S. Air Force continues to study what attributes its future KC-Z tanker should have, as the service tries to resolve six Category 1 deficiencies on its Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers–design and product quality faults that raise the possibility that the service may not field all planned KC-46As by the scheduled date of 2029 and may have […]