The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded a $49.7 million contract to KBR Inc. for the Stealth & Cognitive Agile Navigation System (SCANS) project, researching and prototyping an alternative position, navigation, and timing (PNT) system for use in GPS-denied environments. The “cognitive tactical PNT” project combines high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and cognitive electronic warfare (EW) to help aircraft and smart munitions navigate precisely without GPS signals or timing.
The integration of advanced technologies seeks to automate and accelerate critical PNT processes. Specifically, it may enable updating inertial navigation systems more rapidly when GPS is not available. AI, machine learning, and a new generation of cognitive computing will produce the precise timing essential to precise positioning in GPS-denied environments, and then use inertial navigation in novel ways to achieve real-time navigation.
Cognitive computing uses computerized models to calculate answers in ambiguous and uncertain circumstances. It uses AI techniques to power cognitive applications such as expert systems, neural networks, robotics, and cognitive electronic warfare systems.
Image courtesy AFRL.
