AI: The Future of Aerial Combat
The MIT Museum
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Creative Lead: Andy Moliski
Content: Madeleine Osborne, Hillary Cleary
Development: Shuvo Das, Clay Tercek
Project Management: Hillary Cleary
Bluecadet collaborated with the MIT museum to produce over 20 interactive moments showing how MIT led innovations are shaping the future.
This exhibit explores the use of artificial intelligence in life or death situations, particularly in aerial combat. By interacting with an actual simulated battle between a human fighter pilot and an AI, visitors are invited to consider the opportunities of human-machine symbiosis, the complexities of training an AI co-pilot and the future of combat.
Project type: Media + spatial install
DARPA’s Tournement
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) identified the development of AI as a critical step in the advancement of defense technology and challenged a range of contractors to participate in a simulated tournament of AI-piloted F-16 fighter jets.
The AI champion earned the chance to challenge a US fighter pilot in a series of simulated battles. The result? A sweep of victories for the AI.
Compelled by the use of machine learning to tackle systems as complex as aerial combat, the MIT Museum worked with our team to feature models used in the competition as a case study of the extraordinary capabilities of AI.
The Interactive
A simulated battle between the AI and Cody Allee—a fighter pilot who participated in the project—helps us drive the narrative through the lens of a potential combat scenario.
The AI pilot is comprised of three “subagents” working together under a “director” agent. Depending on the aircraft’s strategic position, the director activates one of three agents. Each has been trained for hundreds of hours to execute specific maneuvers.
Several content features pause the scenario and use data to discuss advantages and disadvantages for both Cody and the AI.
Feature 1: Tracking the effects of G-force on human fighter pilots
Feature 6: Comparing human and machine joystick inputs