The history of air combat is as old as human flight, with fixed wing aircraft used for reconnaissance missions less than 10 years after its invention. As aviation has transformed over the intervening 100-plus years, so too has air combat.
Intuitive Research and Technology Company (INTUITIVE®) is one of the companies that has committed its resources to assist Air Combat Command (ACC), one of nine Major Commands within the U.S. Air Force. ACC organizes, trains, equips, and maintains combat-ready units for rapid deployment abroad while also ensuring air defense of the United States is strong enough for both peacetime and wartime needs.
Since its founding, INTUITIVE has continuously added to its capabilities, growing from a small engineering firm to a high-tech aerospace defense contractor. Aligning itself with the ever-changing landscape of combat aviation, INTUITIVE is likewise committed to constant advancement to accelerate the future of air combat.
“We’ve seen so much advancement in the commercial space surrounding autonomous vehicles – think Tesla, SpaceX and others – and the military is definitely leveraging that work,” said Lane Odom, program manager who joined INTUITIVE in 2020 following a 20-year Air Force career. “Where I expect to see the military and its contractors take a leadership role is in developing the necessary infrastructure monitor and gain trust in these systems for ethical use in warfare.”
The military has been hypervigilant about adopting autonomous technology, primarily due to the need to be cautious in warfare applications of this technology, and the need for sufficient infrastructure to support its use. While self-driven cars share the roadway with manned vehicles, autonomous aircraft will require a retooling of existing bases and updated policies and procedures that allow operation in the same space prior to universal adoption.
INTUITIVE has been involved in the early part of establishing the necessary infrastructure and equipping the test range to support it.
“Aircraft, data systems, command and control systems, operators, and maintenance crews to support launch and recovery will all be based at Eglin AFB for testing,” said Odom. “The test range, called Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR), has new infrastructure to conduct autonomous unmanned aircraft operations.”
He says defense program customers quickly recognized that a facility like EGTTR was necessary to conduct autonomous aircraft testing. “We knew we couldn’t execute iterative testing without the right infrastructure in place,” added Odom.
The Difference Between Autopilot And Autonomy
In looking at the adoption of autonomous technology, it’s important to set it apart from the concept of autopilot, a system already in use in both commercial and military aircraft.
Tapan Sen, who served in the Air Force for 20 years, transitioned to INTUITIVE in 2021 as deputy program manager, then program manager at the company’s office in Florida.
“Autopilot refers to an aircraft’s ability to hold specific flight parameters, like a heading, altitude, and airspeed. Autonomy takes this to a higher level,” said Sen. “An unmanned aircraft can be given a mission versus remotely operated, and then execute that mission while monitoring an area of interest for potential targets in the most efficient way possible.”
This complex task requires complex programming algorithms, some learned behaviors within the system software, and a team of people monitoring behaviors and controlling the vehicle from another aircraft or on the ground.
“I would say that using autonomous aircraft effectively is analogous to managing people,” said Odom. “We give the aircraft its limits of authority and the tools to execute a command, then let it choose the best way to accomplish the objective.”
The New Face Of Air Combat
The advent of autonomous aircraft is expected to transform the way resources – both equipment and personnel – are deployed and utilized in combat, and the directive is coming from the top.
“The Secretary of the Air Force has set a goal of 1,000 collaborative combat aircraft, with a five-to-one ratio of unmanned to manned fighters,” said Odom. “In order to meet that objective, we are working to enable autonomous aircraft software to develop at its own rate, independent of the hardware it controls.”
Odom adds this is a new way of thinking about what the interface between software and hardware looks like, allowing the software requirements to drive the interface definition.
“In the same way instrumentation layouts are standardized across the majority of aircraft to simplify pilot training, the hardware and software interfaces needs to be consistent across autonomous aircraft to facilitate AI and machine learning and enable rapid innovation,” said Sen.
At this stage in development of tomorrow’s Air Combat, the INTUITIVE team is working collaboratively with the Department of Defense and other contractors to establish flight safety and flight procedures, as well as maintenance procedures.
“Our team is made up of former aircrew with decades of experience flying fighters, and that’s by design,” said Odom. “We understand the tactical and operational context these aircraft will need to operate in, which informs the experimentation activities we develop and execute. It also helps us prioritize objectives for experiments.”
Join The Transformation
INTUITIVE is an award-winning employer specializing in systems engineering, programmatic support, product development, rapid prototyping, and technology management. It’s been recognized by its peers, industry organizations, and major publications for consistently demonstrating excellence, and it’s even been recognized as the first inductee into the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Best Places to Work Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed on companies who have been named the Best Place to Work for 10 or more years.
From the smallest task to the largest implementation, INTUITIVE takes great pride in its reputation for service excellence and for retaining its commitments. It is also committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and doing business with diverse suppliers.
The company’s success requires the full and active participation of all its talented and committed employees. Embracing individual uniqueness brings creativity and vitality to INTUITIVE, and by fostering an atmosphere of acceptance and support, the company is able to fully value and appreciate the strengths afforded by the differences, styles, ideas, and organizational contributions of each person.
If INTUITIVE sounds like the kind of cutting-edge organization you’d like to join – and become one of the innovative, empathetic problem solvers committed to giving back to the community – explore INTUITIVE’s available positions by clicking here.
ABOUT INTUITIVE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION:
INTUITIVE® is an aerospace engineering and analysis firm headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama that provides production support, software and systems engineering, programmatic support, product development, rapid prototyping, and technology management to the Department of Defense, other State and Federal Government agencies, and commercial companies. Our approach couples the latest technology with engineering expertise, analytical proficiency, and keen managerial oversight. From design through production to sustainment, we proudly provide management and technical solutions throughout all phases of the system’s life cycle.