Shield AI advances multi-jet autonomy in Kratos firejet tests
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 23, 2024

Shield AI, Inc., a leading technology company focused on developing advanced AI pilots, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting its first multi-jet autonomous flights using two Kratos MQM-178 Firejets. This achievement aligns with the company's broader mission to enable autonomous capabilities globally.

During the flight tests, two autonomous agents, powered by Shield AI's 'Hivemind' AI Pilot, executed coordinated maneuvers, showcasing operationally relevant collaborative behaviors. The demonstration highlighted the potential of future unmanned aircraft, with all computational processes occurring onboard and communication between the agents integrated seamlessly in the air.

"In the next decade, AI pilots will command and maneuver all unmanned systems, enabling the US and our allies to deploy millions of intelligent, resilient drones," stated Brandon Tseng, President, Co-founder, and former Navy SEAL of Shield AI. "These Firejet flight tests represent a key milestone on our journey to bring autonomy to the world. What's awesome is that the algorithms are not limited to the number of aircraft. For test objectives and budgetary reasons, we limited the number of Firejets to two, but it could have been 4, 8, 16, 32, and so on."

This recent accomplishment builds on a series of AI-piloted Firejet flight tests carried out earlier this year. Notably, June saw Shield AI complete its first Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) integration, a technology that connects live platforms with virtual environments, enabling dynamic interactions across various domains.

Related Links
Shield AI
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com