Air Force picks Applied Research to develop architecture-agnostic multi-sensor fusion and machine autonomy

Jan. 30, 2024
MASS will develop technologies to manage localized and distributed sensors, help make decisions, and make technological advances in algorithms.

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio – U.S. Air Force researchers needed new ways of automating multi-sensor fusion for battle management; sensor command and control; and sensor data collection, communications, processing, and dissemination. They found their solution from Applied Research Solutions Inc. in Beavercreek Ohio.

Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $48.8 million contract to Applied Research Solutions earlier this month for the Mission Autonomy for Air and Space Systems (MASS) program.

MASS seeks to develop multi-domain, multi-platform, multi-scale machine autonomy technologies to apply closed-loop sensing, data processing, and reasoning for sensor mission autonomy in military operations.

MASS capabilities will help Air Force leaders better understand threats, allies, and neutral elements, and help with planning, conduct, and assessment of mission effects across different sensor, strike, electronic warfare (EW) and cyber missions.

Related: Probing what the human eye cannot see

The MASS program will help Air Force leaders generate options for military responses; optimize sensor planning and deployment; and process sensor data from several different sensor systems.

Machine autonomy and advanced computing developed in the MASS program will have architectural agility by developing secure architecture-agnostic software, databases, interfaces, and digital artifacts on alternative processing architectures at several levels of classification.

The project will develop technologies to manage localized and distributed sensors, help make decisions, and make technological advances in computer algorithms.

For more information contact Applied Research Solutions online at https://www.appliedres.com, or the Air Force Research Laboratory at www.afrl.af.mil.

About the Author

John Keller | Editor

John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Military Aerospace, create an account today!