VISTA X-62 - testing AI on a Tactical jet.

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EDWARDS AFB, Calif., Feb. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

The Lockheed Martin VISTA X-62A, a one-of-a-kind training aircraft, was flown by an artificial intelligence agent for more than 17 hours recently, representing the first time AI engaged on a tactical aircraft.

"VISTA will allow us to parallelize the development and test of cutting-edge artificial intelligence techniques with new uncrewed vehicle designs," said Dr. M. Christopher Cotting, U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School director of research. "This approach, combined with focused testing on new vehicle systems as they are produced, will rapidly mature autonomy for uncrewed platforms and allow us to deliver tactically relevant capability to our warfighter."

Recent upgrades by the U.S. Air Force include an updated VISTA Simulation System (VSS) provided by Calspan, and Lockheed Martin's Model Following Algorithm (MFA), and System for Autonomous Control of the Simulation (SACS). The SACS and MFA systems integrated together provide new capabilities to the VISTA so it can be used to conduct the most advanced flight test experiments emphasizing autonomy and AI.

The 17-plus hour flight by an AI agent took place as part of a series of tests in December.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 44440.html

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The test campaign involved two AI agents, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Autonomous Air Combat Operations and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Air Combat Evolution, each performing in different roles. In fact, while the AACO’s AI agents performed one-on-one beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements against a simulated adversary, the ACE’s AI agents performed within-visual-range maneuvering, also known as “dogfighting”, against constructive AI red-team agents.

Both teams’ AI agents executed autonomous tactical maneuvering while maintaining real-world airspace boundaries and optimizing aircraft performance, said the press release. In several instances, pilots completed the tests for ACE and AACO within hours of each other after engineers switched autonomy algorithms onboard the X-62A in minutes. It is worth noting that safety pilots were still present on board as backup in case of emergencies during the tests.

“The X-62A VISTA team has proven with this test campaign that they are capable of complex AI test missions that accelerate the development and testing of autonomy capabilities for the DOD,” said Dr. Malcolm Cotting, the director of Research for the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. “The X-62 is a flight test accelerator, it allows the USAF to rapidly execute tactical autonomy algorithm and fixed-wing vehicle model flight tests. These tests generate data that is used to improve the algorithms and vehicle models at a remarkably fast pace,”

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DARPA provided more details about the X-62 test campaign in a separate press release. DARPA performers EpiSci, PhysicsAI, Shield AI, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory flew different F-16 AI algorithms on the X-62A. Interestingly, Heron AI, the winner of the AlphaDoghfight Trials, was not mentioned among the agents tested in December.



https://theaviationist.com/2023/02/14/a ... -62-vista/

[basher54321]

DARPA ACE & USAF X-62A Achieve World First for AI in Aerospace

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NBC News Pentagon correspondent Courtney Kube reports:

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May 8, 2024 | By Greg Hadley
The artificial intelligence controlling the F-16 that Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall flew in last week matched up well against an experienced human pilot in dogfights, Kendall said May 8. Kendall said he was surprised by surging media interest in his May 2 autonomous flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and shared new details on how the flight went and how it informed his thinking on AI.

Speaking at the Ash Carter Exchange, a conference in Washington, D.C., Kendall said the flight demonstrated “within-visual-range engagements” against a manned F-16, piloted by an Airman with “2,000 or 3,000 hours of experience.” Three different versions were tested in about 10-12 situations, with Kendall controlling when the AI took over. The AI then was able to maneuver the aircraft and could simulate an “engagement” with the adversary using short-range missiles or the F-16’s gun.

“It was roughly an even fight,” Kendall said. “But against a less experienced pilot, the AI, the automation would have performed better.”

Kendall emphasized the AI is not yet ready to be deployed—but suggested it is well on its way to being so:

“It’s making very good progress”
“We’re on the right path, and we’re going to get to where we’re headed for”
“It’s easy to see a situation where they’re going to be able to do this job, generally speaking, better than humans.”

Source: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/kenda ... -autonomy/

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Interview with Shield AI 30 May 2024:

We talked with one of the companies whose AI agent flew the X-62A VISTA with Frank Kendall in the cockpit.
Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a pioneering company dedicated to advancing autonomous systems for military aviation. With a mission to protect service members and civilians through intelligent technology, Shield AI develops cutting-edge AI pilots and autonomy products.

Their innovative solutions have flown on various aircraft, from quadcopters to advanced military jets like the X-62A VISTA. By combining traditional heuristic methods with neural network reinforcement learning.

We recently had the chance to interview the Shield AI team, led by Brandon Tseng, former Navy SEAL and co-founder/president of the company, and delve into their pivotal role in the historic flight of the X-62A VISTA with U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall aboard.........

https://theaviationist.com/2024/05/30/a ... in-action/