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In the News
Researchers better understand human-machine relationships
As technology becomes more advanced, concerns about artificial intelligence may creep into the minds of people regardless of their depth of understanding. Some worry that AI might one day replace humans, while others argue that certain skills cannot be automated by machines.
Researchers from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, developed a theoretical construct for human relationships with artificial intelligence and other smart technologies that proposes a new vision for more compatible team-like partnerships.
Army researchers develop innovative framework for training AI
Army researchers developed a pioneering framework that provides a baseline for the development of collaborative multi-agent systems.
The framework is detailed in the survey paper "Survey of recent multi-agent reinforcement learning algorithms utilizing centralized training," which is featured in the SPIE Digital Library. Researchers said the work will support research in reinforcement learning approaches for developing collaborative multi-agent systems such as teams of robots that could work side-by-side with future Soldiers.
Army leverages virtual reality to understand network influence
Immersive virtual reality isn’t just for amusement parks, the U.S. Army is funding research that uses it to understand group dynamics. Immersive reality combines virtual reality with images, sounds, or other stimuli to provide an engrossing environment. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory funded scientists at Kent State University’s Electrophysiological Neuroscience Laboratory to create an immersive virtual reality lab that can be used in tandem with their other biophysiological technologies to advance an interdisciplinary understanding of group dynamics.
Army hosts global AI, machine learning event
U.S. Army researchers hosted an artificial intelligence and machine learning event May 4 that garnered the attendance and attention of hundreds of researchers. The event, Machine Learning for Everyone: May the Fourth Be With You, provided information about concepts, math and implementation of machine learning and artificial intelligence, or AI/ML, for Army applications.
Army technique enhances robot battlefield operations
Army researchers developed a technique that allows robots to remain resilient when faced with intermittent communication losses on the battlefield. The technique, called α-shape, provides an efficient method for resolving goal conflicts between multiple robots that may want to visit the same area during missions including unmanned search and rescue, robotic reconnaissance, perimeter surveillance and robotic detection of physical phenomena, such as radiation and underwater concentration of lifeforms.
Army researchers train tech tools based on Soldier sensory data
Imagine future American warfighters in the midst of a mission leveraging technology to maintain a new level of situational awareness. This may be possible thanks to a new suite of software tools that tap into what a Soldier or sailor sees and feels. Researchers developed software to exploit gaze and physiological data and provide real-time estimates of human situational awareness using a systematic collection of measurements via what they call the lab streaming layer, or LSL. This data collection ecosystem addresses analytic difficulties when combining information from different types of sensors.
Army, ASU publish human-autonomy communication tips
Army and Arizona State University researchers identified a set of approaches to help scientists assess how well autonomous systems and humans communicate.
These approaches build on transformational scientific research efforts led by the Army’s Robotics Collaborative Technology Alliance (RCTA), which evolved the state of robots from tools to teammates and laid the foundation for much of the service’s existing research into how humans and robots can work together effectively.
Army study looks at how exoskeleton tech adapts to Soldiers
Army researchers are answering tough questions as part of a new study that focuses on how technology adapts to human behavior. In the past, Soldiers faced challenges adapting to novel technologies intended to optimize performance. This study used an adaptive exoskeleton boot that operates in synchrony with the Soldier for optimal performance. Army technology concept developers explored this as an example of an intelligent agent with potential value to Army operations.
Army researchers create pioneering approach to real-time conversational AI
Spoken dialogue is the most natural way for people to interact with complex autonomous agents such as robots. Future Army operational environments will require technology that allows artificial intelligent agents to understand and carry out commands and interact with them as teammates. Researchers from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory and the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT), a Department of Defense-sponsored University Affiliated Research Center, created an approach to flexibly interpret and respond to Soldier intent derived from spoken dialogue with autonomous systems.
Low-cost tech prepares Army for new threats
Army researchers, as part of a national security team, are keeping a close eye on the evolution of new, low-cost threat emitters to improve the Army’s ability to represent the adversary’s equipment and actions accurately and dynamically.
Threat emitters provide a current, simulated battlespace environment designed to train allied warfighters to identify and defeat ever-changing adversaries.
