What Makes Intelligent Systems
Successful in A&D?

Intelligent systems, also referred to as artificial intelligence (AI) systems, aim to replicate human-like intelligence and decision-making processes. These systems are designed to collect and analyze data, learn from it, and make informed decisions or predictions. At the core of intelligent systems lies machine learning, a subset of AI that enables systems to improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed.

Intelligent systems rely heavily on data, collecting vast amounts of information for decision-making and learning. They process and analyze this data by using algorithms that can make predictions and decisions. Intelligent systems can also learn from exposure to data. And because they rely on automation, they reduce the need for human intervention in some repetitive tasks and decision-making processes.

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The success of intelligent systems relies on a combination of characteristics that are essential to their development, deployment, and continued operation — in fact, to their effectiveness and impact.

Across industries, these characteristics include quality and quantity of data, robust algorithms, scalability, high performance, user-centered design, a commitment to ethical considerations, continuous learning and adaptation, and a tangible return on investment.

Characteristics Needed in Intelligent Systems in A&D

In the aerospace and defense sector, intelligent systems play a pivotal role in enhancing mission success, ensuring safety, and optimizing operational efficiency. Certain critical characteristics must be tailored to the unique demands of this sector.

Attributes that are essential for intelligent systems in aerospace and defense include:

• Simulation and emulation in near real time: The inherent complexity and volume of mission-critical capabilities mean that A&D systems must compute, sense, and connect in near real time. Intelligent systems must process vast amounts of data swiftly and provide instantaneous responses, so low-latency capabilities are vital.
• True compute on the far edge: To support their low-latency capabilities, aerospace and defense applications must be able to fully function in near-latency-free mode even on the farthest edge of the cloud.
• Security and cyber resilience: In an era of increasing cyberthreats, intelligent systems must be designed with robust cybersecurity measures to protect against cyberattacks, data breaches, and unauthorized access. They should adhere to the strictest security standards and continuously monitor for vulnerabilities.
• Real-time collaborative workflow: The A&D sector involves a complex ecosystem of platforms, technologies, and stakeholders. Intelligent systems must seamlessly integrate with existing infrastructure and collaborate with other systems, ensuring that information and resources can be shared efficiently in joint operations.
• Automated learning, machine learning, and total automation: The ability to infuse automation (AI) and machine learning (ML) throughout the lifecycle of a device or system, from the moment development starts, is necessary because intelligent systems often assist human operators in decision-making processes. They should be equipped with advanced decision support algorithms and the ability to operate autonomously when required, such as in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or autonomous defense systems.
• Situational awareness and the ability to predict stresses and failures: Intelligent systems must fuse data from various sensors, including radar, GPS, and imaging, to offer a complete picture of the environment. They should also have predictive capabilities to anticipate threats and opportunities.
• Digital feedback loops: The ability to synthesize workflows with one process for all parties involved, using digital feedback loops to influence new product and service development, brings people, data, and new collaborative work processes to the forefront in A&D intelligent systems. Examples such as Air Force Platform One are based on the concept of the constant development, deployment, and operation of complex systems responding in near–real time to digital feedback loops.
• Scalability: As the demands of the aerospace and defense sector evolve, intelligent systems must scale to accommodate increased data volumes, sensor inputs, and processing requirements, especially in dynamic environments.
• Regulatory compliance: A&D is a highly regulated industry. Strict regulatory and compliance standards ensure both safety and security. Compliance certifies systems for use in mission-critical applications.
• Mission flexibility: Intelligent systems should be versatile and programmable to handle diverse tasks, whether surveillance, reconnaissance, communication, or tactical decision support.
• Human–machine collaboration: In many A&D scenarios, human operators collaborate closely with intelligent systems. Effective human–machine interfaces and transparent communication between humans and systems are essential for mission success and operator trust.
• Reliability and redundancy: Above all else, intelligent systems in this sector must be exceptionally reliable. System failures in areas such as aircraft control or missile defense can have catastrophic consequences. Redundancy and fail-safe mechanisms are crucial to ensure continuous operation even in the face of hardware or software failures.

Building out Critical Characteristics in the Aerospace and Defense Industry

Forbes and Wind River^® research into A&D executives’ views of critical characteristics for intelligent systems success in their sector revealed the most impactful areas of focus for development, starting now and carrying into the next five years:

Figure 1. Industry executives’ ranking of the key characteristics that drive success in intelligent systems in A&D

Compared to other major industries, A&D requires the most advanced design for intelligent systems success. By addressing the factors shown in Figure 1 during development and throughout the system’s lifecycle, organizations can maximize the value and impact of intelligent systems in various applications and domains.

What’s more, knowing when to invest in each characteristic means creating a blueprint for building critical infrastructure, delivering core foundational needs, and much more. For A&D, our research shows the temporal criticality of each characteristic:

Figure 2. A&D leaders ranked the need for each characteristic according to a five-year timeline

Of the A&D leaders surveyed, 59% believe that their ROI will outweigh the level of effort and cost needed to develop these characteristics.

Wind River Edge

VxWorks

VxWorks^® is a real-time operating system (RTOS) that is widely used in intelligent systems in A&D and other industries, including automotive, industrial, medical, and more. It provides a robust and reliable foundation for developing and running embedded and real-time applications. VxWorks is often used in autonomous vehicles, robotics, and critical infrastructure systems for which real-time performance and safety are paramount.

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