OU and Air Force Engineers Improve Natural Language Generation for Auto-Routing Aircraft

-

 


A research team, coordinated by the Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute at the University of Oklahoma, is applying artificial intelligence and machine learning methods to improve autonomous routing of aircraft being operated by the U.S. Air Force.

“The Department of Defense analyzes massive amounts of information to orchestrate the defense and security actions of allied forces,” said Dean Hougen, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Computer Science in the Gallogly College of Engineering. “Routing platforms, like those used to set the flight plans for aircraft, depend on massive quantities of data that are ever evolving, and current routing methods are often heavily dependent on direct human involvement.”

Hougen is leading the project in partnership with the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex to develop a platform that will use natural language generation to improve autonomous routing capabilities. Co-investigators John Antonio and Lacey Schley, with OU engineering graduate students, are supporting the project. OC-ALC technical leads are Alexander Stringer and Brian Sun.

“This automated routing capability will be able to quickly ingest information and output a near optimal route based on the objectives of its human operators,” Hougen said. “Our prototype uses machine learning, demonstrated on publicly available Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast data and simulated data provided by the USAF, to develop routes that are autonomous, efficient, and understandable by human operators.”

The two-year project began Sept. 15, 2021 and is expected to be complete by Sept. 14, 2023.

By Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships

Popular posts from this blog

OU Engineering Welcomes 14 New Faculty Members for 2023-24

-
Image
OU Engineering has welcomed 14 new faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. This marks a milestone in the college's growth journey, with faculty numbers increasing from just over 100 in 2017 to 175 in 2023. OU Engineering is committed to expanding its faculty ranks, aiming for over 200 faculty members by the 2025-26 academic year, says OU Engineering Dean John Klier. To achieve this goal, the college has initiated more than 20 faculty searches. The State of Oklahoma continues to acknowledge the need for more engineers. They recently responded to OU Engineering’s request for additional recurring funding. The funding will play a crucial role in offering undergraduate student tuition waivers, supporting graduate students and helping recruit new faculty and staff. These positions will be phased in over the next three years. "OU Engineering extends its gratitude for the ongoing support from the State of Oklahoma as it continues to address the growing demand for engineers,&quo
Read more

OU Engineering 1 of 28 Teams Nationwide to Receive DEPSCoR Grant

-
Image
University of Oklahoma engineering researcher Reza Foudazi, Ph.D., has been selected to receive a $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense under the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or DEPSCoR. The highly competitive grant was awarded to only 28 academic teams nationwide.  An associate professor in the School of Sustainable Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, Foudazi’s research centers on the exploration of electrochemical energy storage systems that incorporate multivalent ions. He says the systems are of interest due to their potential for higher energy density when compared to conventional lithium-based systems.  “We are dedicated to advancing the field of electrochemical energy storage. The primary goal of this research is to understand the fundamental design principles behind nanostructured thermoresponsive electrolytes for multivalent ions,” Foudazi said.  Foudazi's team will produce ionogel electrolytes by using block copol
Read more

OU Engineering Students Shine in Community Projects

-
Image
At the University of Oklahoma, a transformative course called Pathways to Engineering Thinking is leaving a mark on OU students and the community. In the first-year engineering course, over 800 students across 16 sections collaborated to tackle real-world challenges presented by community partners. Their projects ranged from developing prosthetic limbs for injured animals to creating innovative solutions for community gardens and zoos. The course aims to guide students through the engineering design process, emphasizing collaborative teamwork and problem-solving skills.  This semester’s projects reached many areas of the community. Partnerships with the OU Food Pantry, OU Community Garden, Oklahoma City Zoo, OU Engineering K-12 Outreach, a local dog rescue and the City of Norman provided students with real-world challenges to address. Each team delved into issues presented by the partners, working toward delivering functional design solutions by the semester’s end. The heart of the cou
Read more