Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (AIL) develops and applies artificial intelligence technology to distributed, real-time, and autonomous systems for military platforms. The laboratory's ability to embed artificial-intelligence systems into larger software systems allows human decision-markers to increase efficiency and deal with complex, time-sensitive environments. We develop and apply artificial intelligence in a variety of domains, including rule-based technology, knowledge-based systems, distributed and real-time artificial intelligence, autonomous/collaborative systems and neural networks.

We are at the forefront of artificial intelligence in designing systems that serve as partners for users. Our laboratory focuses on three business areas:

• Intelligent Autonomy
• Net-Centric Operations Technologies
• Distributed Operations

Intelligent Autonomy

The military's use of unmanned vehicles in autonomous and collaborative roles is expanding rapidly. We provide intelligent autonomy and teaming (or collaborative) technologies to support Lockheed Martin products. These products enable warfighters to effectively exploit current and future unmanned systems. We are focused specifically on two critical operational goals:

• Significantly reduce the human workload needed to use unmanned systems
• Enable effective deployment of teams of unmanned vehicles.

Maintaining network connectivity and managing information from a variety of sources are integral components of battlefield success. Equally important is real-time communication. Without up-to-the-minute information, warfighters can't make effective battlefield decisions, risking mission failure and personal survival. Also as part of the Horizontal Fusion/Warrior's Edge program, software agents enable enterprise publish and subscribe services and allow warfighters to access all information about the battlespace, rather than only that from central command and control. Network centric operations leverage artificial intelligence to allow warfighters to access and share information throughout the entire network, despite interfaces, operating systems, or data formats. Network-centric operation provides coordination, where each node in the network helps provide a seamless, decentralized organization of intelligence resources.

Situation awareness for squad and team leaders is critical for mission success. Lockheed Martin's Distributed Operations (DisOPS) system enhances situation awareness and increases information sharing and coordination among small-unit infantry for pre-mission planning, mission execution, and post-mission analysis. Enabling effective command and control of intra-unit collaboration through the full range of military operations up through the platoon level, the DisOPS system provides situation awareness to small units in a tactical environment while increasing their combat effectiveness., DisOPS enhances situational awareness, coordinated maneuvering, and friendly-force tracking for the dismounted warfighter.

DisOPS addresses the need for real-time information exchange and coordination. Its specially modified personal digital assistants and laptop computers let people wirelessly communicate intelligence, enable grid-based distance calculations, share GPS coordinates, photograph items of interest, and track other team members — all while enabling them to silently coordinate their maneuvers.

Providing Solutions

Our work is helping to forge the way for modern, network-centric warfare. Improved task performance is our main goal, and we achieve it by leveraging the forefront of artificial intelligence technologies