AI for Autonomy Lab

2024

The Department of Defense (DoD) has long recognized the potential benefits of using autonomous systems for mission success. Over the last 10 years, there have been advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology for autonomous systems. The DoD has intensified its autonomy research and development programs in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Our adversaries have also pursued the promise of autonomous technology. The DoD’s interest has continued to grow, and in 2023, it announced Directive 3000.09, Autonomy in Weapon Systems, a commitment to military uses of autonomous systems, AI, and ML.

To support this growing interest and commitment, the SEI formally established the AI for Autonomy Lab in late 2023 and, in 2024, began focusing on sponsored work and expanding its relationships with DoD agencies, academic research groups, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), university-affiliated research centers, and vendors of AI and autonomy solutions. This lab was established to enable expert researchers to study and demonstrate how AI and ML technologies can be used to improve the performance of autonomous systems while meeting warfighter needs for trustworthiness and accountability. The AI for Autonomy Lab partners with leading-edge organizations, including the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute’s AirLab and National Robotics Engineering Center.

The AI for Autonomy Lab team includes experts in AI and ML; robotics; software engineering; test and evaluation; national security; cybersecurity; and vehicles that operate across land, sea, air, and space. The lab works with DoD stakeholders and partners to apply AI and ML to autonomy challenges such as planning and control, simulation methods, and evaluation practices—challenges that the DoD must meet to successfully deploy and operate these solutions in the field.

Looking ahead, the lab continues to grow its relationships with DoD departments and agencies, academic research groups, FFRDCs, university-affiliated research centers, defense industrial base contractors, and vendors of AI, ML, and autonomy solutions. These relationships enable the lab to have broad impact on autonomous systems, improving their performance, capability, reliability, effectiveness, and suitability.