Artificial intelligence effortlessly defeats grandmasters in chess, outperforms champions in Go, shows prowess in poker tournaments, and easily conquers esports players in strategic games. However, AI cannot yet win in real combat conditions, but this is a pursuit worth striving for, as stated by the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). At high speeds and under significant stress, the fighter pilot remains the sole effective operator of the combat machine, despite being vulnerable (with their physical and mental limitations). The conditions of modern fast-paced combat necessitate a change to this rule. Close-range combat, which requires maximum concentration and pilot reaction, must be automated — placing the responsibility on artificial intelligence.
To implement the training program for AI in aerial combat within visual range, DARPA is launching the (ACE, Air Combat Evolution). The ACE program is part of another larger initiative by the U.S. Department of Defense — conducting "mosaic" warfare (). The mosaic warfare concept involves coordinated piloted, semi-autonomous, and automatic actions by both piloted and unmanned aerial combat platforms. According to the ACE program, pilots will carry out strategic battle management rather than tactical. Thus, the pilot will be able to issue commands to the accompanying unmanned aerial vehicles and oversee the combat, while the combat autopilot of their own aircraft will focus on maneuvers to defeat the enemy.
Training AI in combat maneuvering is planned to be conducted in the same manner as for human pilots — with the help of experienced instructors. Instruction will start with the basics of maneuvering. Instructors will accompany the autonomous aerial combat vehicles, documenting shortcomings and noting successes. Despite the seemingly vast array of incoming variable information, aerial combat adheres to its relatively limited rules dictated by aerodynamics (the physics of processes) and the specifications of the aircraft. According to specialists, this will facilitate the development of AI for close aerial combat.
Source: 3dnews.ru
