![\"\"](\"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/AlphaDogFight_Graphic2020.jpg\")
DefenceTalk<\/p>\nDefenceTalk<\/p>\n
The third and final competition in DARPA\u2019s AlphaDogfight Trials will take place virtually August 18-20 instead of in person due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participating teams and audience members will watch online as artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms control simulated F-16 fighters in aerial combat, culminating in a matchup on August 20 between the top AI and an experienced Air Force fighter pilot flying a virtual reality F-16 simulator.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe weren\u2019t able to host the finals at AFWERX in Las Vegas as we\u2019d originally planned with fighter pilots from the Air Force Weapons School at nearby Nellis Air Force Base,\u201d said Col. Dan \u201cAnimal\u201d Javorsek, program manager in DARPA\u2019s Strategic Technology Office. \u201cWe are still excited to see how the AI algorithms perform against each other as well as a Weapons School-trained human and hope that fighter pilots from across the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as military leaders and members of the AI tech community will register and watch online. It\u2019s been amazing to see how far the teams have advanced AI for autonomous dogfighting in less than a year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eight teams were selected last year to compete in the trials, which aim to demonstrate advanced AI algorithms capable of performing simulated within-visual-range air combat maneuvering, colloquially known as a dogfight. The series of trials were designed to energize and expand a base of AI developers for DARPA\u2019s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program. ACE seeks to automate air-to-air combat and build human trust in AI as a step toward improved human-machine teaming.<\/p>\n
The three-day event will be streamed live from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, via a ZoomGov webinar featuring multiple \u201cchannels.\u201d Dubbed AlphaDogfight Trials TV (ADT TV), this multi-view format will afford viewers comprehensive perspectives of the dogfights in real-time and feature experts and guests from the Control Zone, akin to a TV sports commentary desk.<\/p>\n
Trials 1 and 2, held in November 2019 and January 2020, respectively, were hosted in person at APL. Teams conducted subsequent virtual \u201cscrimmages\u201d in May and July to hone their algorithms leading up to Trial 3.<\/p>\n
Each day of Trial 3 will have a different focus with activities broadcast throughout the day on ADT TV:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPrime time\u201d viewing will take place between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. EDT on Day 3, Aug. 20, with remarks from Javorsek and other DARPA officials, recaps of the previous days\u2019 activities and scores, and the final human vs AI dogfight.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of whether the human or machine wins the final dogfight, the AlphaDogfight Trials is all about increasing trust in AI,\u201d Javorsek said. \u201cIf the champion AI earns the respect of an F-16 pilot, we\u2019ll have come one step closer to achieving effective human-machine teaming in air combat, which is the goal of the ACE program.\u201d<\/p>\n The following eight teams are participating in Trial 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n Team videos and highlights from Trials 1 and 2 are available here: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PL6wMum5UsYvaTmVj10WZo5-1vVH-pdLR4<\/p>\n\n
\n