General Atomics Takes Autonomous Flight with Avenger MQ-20A | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-09.23.24

Airborne-NextGen-10.01.24

Airborne-Unlimited-10.02.24

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-10.03.24

Airborne-Unlimited-09.27.24

Sun, Sep 25, 2022

General Atomics Takes Autonomous Flight with Avenger MQ-20A

Uncrewed Avenger Takes to the Skies Using AI, Machine Learning Software

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, (GA-ASI) has completed a fully autonomous sortie using an Avenger MQ-20A equipped with their Artificial Intelligence Piloting software.

The flight used the company's Open Mission Systems (OMS) software stack and an otherwise garden variety Avenger to carry out the 30 minute voyage. The Avenger's AI pilot directed the flight while cooperating with a live (but virtual) constructive UAS swarm, stress testing General Atomics' machine learning and AI systems in a simulated battlespace.

Their software made use of novel Reinforcement Learning architecture to provide a new and innovative tool for next-generation military platforms to make real-time, rapid decisions under dynamic and uncertain conditions. The team tested the aircraft's “chase and avoid behavior”, evaluating its behavior in a contested environment where the AI had to thread its way around hostiles without any outside direction. 

“The flight was a tremendous success and demonstrated a number of groundbreaking capabilities in the race to operationalize autonomy for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA),” said General Atomics senior director of advanced programs Michael Atwood. “It’s exciting to see how AI can be used to advance how and where we fly unmanned systems as the complexity of the battlespace increases. Our ‘chase and avoid’ agent’s ability to dynamically update the flight path as threats were identified is the first step towards building an ecosystem of collaborative autonomous combat aircraft.”

A key component of the exercise was the TacIRST, a multifunction, embeddable sensor system with an open architecture. The system was key to the Avenger’s ability to deftly maneuver around simulated hostiles.  The  Lockheed Martin suite provides a range of capabilities for both crewed and uncrewed aircraft, allowing for improved detection and threat evaluation for the MQ-20. 

“We anticipated the need for passive, long-range threat detection by autonomous aircraft and are proud to see this capability integrated successfully on the Avenger,” said Terry Hoehn, director of Lockheed Martin’s advanced threat warning systems. He was content in their performance, adding that the most recent sortie will be one of many more. “We look forward to further collaboration and testing General Atomics.” 

The flight was fully funded in-house by General Atomics, drawing on company property to host and operate the OMS software and other General Dynamics subsidiaries for additional architecture and hardware. While digital equipment is convenient, it opens up new frontiers for systems degradation, making in-flight security vital to successful mission performance. General Dynamics Mission Systems provided the Digital Backbone Node (DBN) architecture to the project, allowing for rapid, secure deployment with mil-spec open architecture and suitable performance. The high-performance computing, cooling, and multi-level security for maximum battlefield "rapid and secure deployment of evolving capabilities". The end result is an MQ-20A Avenger with the computing power, cooling, and security needed to survive a modern battlefield while collaborating with similarly autonomous aircraft. 

FMI: www.ga.com

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (10.01.24)

“Falcon 9’s second stage was disposed in the ocean as planned, but experienced an off-nominal deorbit burn... As a result, the second stage safely landed in the ocean, >[...]

ANN FAQ: Q&A 101

A Few Questions AND Answers To Help You Get MORE Out of ANN! 1) I forgot my password. How do I find it? 1) Easy... click here and give us your e-mail address--we'll send it to you >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (10.01.24)

Aero Linx: The International Airline Medical Association The International Airline Medical Association, formerly known as the Airline Medical Directors Association (AMDA) was found>[...]

Airborne 09.25.24: Textron Strike, UAV Finds Child, Third Scale B-29 Flies!

Also: Astro Return, F-16 Dumps Fuel Tanks, ForeFlight Updates, Military Scouts Electra After weeks of wrangling, Textron finds itself at the helm of a company at a standstill. And >[...]

Airborne 09.27.24: Highway Ldg and Departure, PAL-V Progress, Dustoff Honors

Also: Tyndall AFB Evacuates, Whitaker v Musk--Smackdown?, Southwest Controversy, Russkies in ADIZ A pilot who was experiencing what he thought was fuel starvation was able to safel>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC