The British Navy employs artificial intelligence (AI) systems to train its sailors, among other more offensive uses. We already live in the age of semi-autonomous weapons. Nearly every major military power in the world already uses computer-controlled systems to guide their heaviest artillery on land and at sea. But Deep Vision, a Canadian company, designed a new AI system able to increase the accuracy of robot guns. They also help humans to become better shooters.
Dynamic Fall-of-Shot Feedback (DFOSF), as it is called Deep Vision's system, is designed to be implemented on navy ships. The AI system tracks both the intended target and small arms fire. Computer vision algorithms track the fired bullets to the designated target and give live feedback to the gunner about the accuracy of their shots.
The system that is developed for now as a training tool for the British Royal Navy. Traditional training exercises used to require physical retrieval of the dummy target to evaluate the performance of sailors-in-training. Deep Vision's AI system will make training more efficient. To accomplish this, DFOSF makes use of a technique called data abstraction. By compressing complex pixel data into s simpler representation, it is possible to reduce computational complexity.
Michael Outhouse, Deep Vision Chief Science Officer, explained that the application of its company's AI system in training could just be the beginning. One day, the technology could be used on autonomous or semi-autonomous weapons to guide them hit their target. The AI assisted tracking system provides guidance for firing to control systems and it can potentially be used to automatically make rapid corrections for atmospheric disturbances between the target and the firing vessel.
Current generation of autonomous weapons systems, such as the United Kingdom's Taranis drone and the US Navy's Phalanx defense system for ships make numerous "decisions" on their own in terms of target detection and destruction. If DFOSF would be implemented in these systems it could enhance their abilities.
Earlier reports indicated that the British Royal Navy also tested self-guided unmanned patrol boats that have the ability to attack potential threats. Such systems are expected to be introduced soon on the field.
U.S. Navy is also testing artificial intelligence technologies to automate decision-making processes ranging from ship control and navigation to sensors, tactical analysis, and weapons. There are reports indicating that the U.S. navy is preparing to introduce autonomous AI systems that will coordinate themselves and make decisions without human supervision and even without any contact at all.
For now, there are no immediate plans to replace humans in the control loop of such autonomous military systems with DFOSF. However, in the near future this could be seen as yet another step toward "lethal autonomous weapons systems," robots that does not need human intervention or guidance to kill people on their own.
