9 Mind-Blowing Tech Projects That Prove The Future Is Now
3. AI Fighter Pilots
Luke Skywalker and R2D2. Poe Dameron and BB-8. Star Wars has taught us the one thing better than an emotional robot is a robot that is also a kick-ass copilot. Now, robotic copilots are one step closer to reality.
“Genetic fuzzy system” sounds like the technical name for a Tribble or Gremlin. In fact, it’s a mishmash of logic, evolutionary modelling and language-based computer science used in the creation of some AI systems. The latest and greatest is ALPHA, an aerial combat AI that routinely defeats some of the best pilots in the US Air Force -- even when ALPHA’s plane is deliberately handicapped to give the humans an advantage.
ALPHA’s advantage is that it can take in all sensory data, organize it, construct a complete analysis of the combat scenario and make decisions for 4 fighter planes in less than a millisecond. That’s 250 times faster than a human pilot can blink. Given that combat pilots close in on each other at 1500 mph while flying at altitudes of 40 000 ft, speedy decision making is everything.
How will this new AI be used? To construct kickass wingmen for human fighter pilots. These Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) will evade hostile strikes, help shoot down enemy combatants, learn by observing the enemy and provide tactical feedback to the manned plane.