David Brown, a staff engineer at SwRI leading this ambitious project, shares, "The essence of our challenge is to enable the EW system to emulate human cognitive processes. Imagine a scenario where a pilot, without prior knowledge of the threats in an area, relies on the system to analyze signals and the surrounding environment to decide on the appropriate countermeasure. Our goal is to create an algorithm with the ability to perform these tasks, mirroring human decision-making, yet surpassing it in terms of accuracy and speed."
Historically, electronic warfare has relied on pre-flight intelligence and a database of known threats, which aircraft systems use to alert pilots to potential dangers. However, this method falls short against new, unseen threats, highlighting the limitations of conventional EW systems and the critical need for cognitive EW solutions.
Damon Plyler, a research engineer at SwRI, further explains, "Traditional approaches depend on a pre-existing library of signals to identify threats. But what if the threat is unknown? Cognitive EW, leveraging machine learning, allows us to recognize and respond to novel signals instantly, eliminating the constraints of the existing signal library."
SwRI's approach to developing this revolutionary EW system encompasses two key phases: feature extraction and signal grouping. Utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, the team aims to isolate specific features of radar threats and then categorize them based on their characteristics, such as lethality and vulnerabilities. This method enables the identification of threat signals with unprecedented precision.
A notable aspect of SwRI's research involves the application of neuromorphic computing, a form of technology that mimics the human brain's neural networks, thereby enhancing processing speed, accuracy, and efficiency. Dr. Steven Harbour, applying his neuroscience expertise, is leading efforts to integrate neuromorphic systems into cognitive EW, marking a significant leap forward in operational combat technology.
Initiated as part of SwRI's internal research and development efforts, this cognitive EW project represents a strategic investment in futuristic warfare technologies, aiming to deliver robust and adaptive solutions to the Air Force. The project, which kicked off on October 1, 2023, is set to conclude in March 2025, with SwRI presenting its research outcomes to the Air Force.
Related Links
Southwest Research Institute
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues
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