Artificial Intelligence will be central to US Sixth Generation Fighter

nextbigfuture.com...
With Design analysis ramping up this year,AI will likely feature prominently on board the Pentagon’s next-generation successors to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the Lockheed M.

What stuck out to me was this line.. "greatly increased speed", more range, more stealth and new features like self-healing structures and multi-spectral stealth.
Self Healing Structures? I know what healing means. but can't even comprehend self-healing structures. Just thought it was a really cool thing to ponder and figured someone here would know much more.
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Author: Brian Wang
NextBigFuture.com

a reply to: PrivilegedPeasant

So, at that time they will have AIs to blame for the increased friendly fire incidents and the destruction of more civilians.

I can hear the excuses rattling off now. "Just a glitch in the system" ... "Computer malfunction" .. "It mistook the fireworks for an attack" and all will be delivered in that Oh well, crap happens, tone of voice.

Having weapons making the decision over life and death is simply wrong.

P

I think there have been a few movies that have dealt with this premise. . . .

It's not AI in the traditional sense.

a reply to: PrivilegedPeasant

The possible details of the new ships come right up to being what I would expect for the black triangle ships:
"...greatly increased speed", more range, more stealth and new features like self-healing structures and multi-spectral stealth....."

...but as understatements of their true capabilities.

INb4

a reply to: PrivilegedPeasant

They already have self healing polymers glass and metals.

The structure wants to be in its original shape, so when it is deformed, like say bending metal, just add hot water and it pops back into its original shape.

The way this sounds though.....is much more advanced.

AI is needed because the F-22 already exceeds the ability of the pilot to fly it.

Faster more agile aircraft would kill the pilot just banking in to high of a G force.

So to have faster more agile aircraft one must overcome the all too fragile human biology component.

Im thinking it will be able to fly a swarm of drones, guide a laser bomb, avoid enemy radar,and ground fire while keeping an eye out for SAAMs and other aircraft, track the pilots vital signs, and fire the appropriate flares and chaff....all whilst jinking madly as the pilot gently unwraps and MRE Mars bar.....and the computer makes its next chess move on the headsup display.....and plots a fuel efficient return course for home....right.........

originally posted by: stirling
Im thinking it will be able to fly a swarm of drones, guide a laser bomb, avoid enemy radar,and ground fire while keeping an eye out for SAAMs and other aircraft, track the pilots vital signs, and fire the appropriate flares and chaff....all whilst jinking madly as the pilot gently unwraps and MRE Mars bar.....and the computer makes its next chess move on the headsup display.....and plots a fuel efficient return course for home....right.........

Lol...that sounds about right.

Modern comps already outhink people.

Next gen, like say quantum comps....could outhink many people.

The concept of force multiplication with the use of semi autonomous aircraft in conjunction with manned stealth planes is very apealing to my mind....
One mother fighter and three or four semi autonomous helpers.....who knows what devastation could be wreaked.....

How about swarms of small explosive drones that can intercept incoming aircraft.....ones that can explode in proximity...and are guided by sensors to the planes....like mosquitos on your back in the swamp while your hands are full....it would be a leap to deal with them all.....
They could be launched from an airial platform ahead of a sortie and allowed to hang out in a cloud that may be hard for radar to identify.....I digress.....

6th Gen Fighters are going to be pilotless. Basically super advanced drones. This allows the plane to conduct manuevers that would kill a human with G force. In reality the plane will be so different in capabilities from a current fighter they will hardly be comparable.

The problem is this even faster speed and mobility will make the human at the joystick in shipping container wherever much too slow to manage everything. Thus the 'AI', which isn't really full on AI, it's more automated responses to sensor input. Like a fighter identifying a missile threat and deploying countermeasures without any human instruction. Or making an enemy fighter contact, identifying the contact and performing a routine of maneuvers to gain a firing position without any human input.

Interesting about the self healing aspect. I really haven't heard much about it.

a reply to: noeltrotsky

Both Lockheed and Northrop are designing and planning on manned platforms.

a reply to: PrivilegedPeasant

Maybe artificial intelligence can build it too, since the humans are still struggling to get the current generation in the air.

a reply to: MarkMyWords

It's not AI in the way people freak out over.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Good thing that it was a simple joke then......

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: noeltrotsky

Both Lockheed and Northrop are designing and planning on manned platforms.

I'm pretty sure the plan is 'manned optional' platforms. Anyway...we'll see.

a reply to: noeltrotsky

Optionally manned is a fancy way of saying manned that appeases the UAV champions. They won't even start testing air to air unmanned platforms until after 2020, after the F-X/F/A-XX have begun development.

a reply to: stirling

That's a really good idea. Very cool thought also. You should be working inside the think tanks, or on sci-fi movies. Very creative thinking indeed.

I have a idea. have pilots in a flooded cockpit to reduce g pressure on them. Anyone heard of Chappie? What if we had tele presence piloting instead? but through a AI/robot body SO there is no need to make it all PC controlled incase of a PC foul up.

a reply to: yuppa

A flooded cockpit would do nothing to alleviate the acceleration forces the pilot experiences.
It would actually make it worse, as the added mass would add to the forces.