Lockheed Martin’s renowned Skunk Works advanced projects division has partnered with the University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) to demonstrate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in air-to-air intercept scenarios.

Tom "Mach" Schnell, University of Iowa engineering professor, has been approved as a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Lockheed with University of Iowa Iowa's Operator Performance Laboratory completed an artificial intelligence demonstration using two piloted L-29 aircraft in a simulated air-to-ground mission. OPL is lead by Tom "Mach" Schnell, a professor of industrial and systems engineering and OPL chief test pilot.

A group of new hires, interns, and co-ops, who work in the area of airborne autonomy at Collins Aerospace, toured the University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab flight test facility. Tom “Mach” Schnell, and OPL director, presented the lab to the group and explained how OPL tests and operates autonomy in a variety of contexts.

The University of Iowa’s Operator Performance Lab (OPL) was among those who evaluated the next generation fixed wing helmet that was recently selected by the U.S. Air Force as the new standard helmet for many of its aircraft.

Tom Schnell, an associate director for the UI’s Iowa Technology Institute and the Captain Jim “Max” Gross Chair in the UI College of Engineering, is the founder of the Operator Performance Laboratory. Since arriving in Iowa City 25 years ago this spring, Schnell has built the OPL into a nationally trusted aviation research hub.

DARPA is also testing how human pilots interact with AI to examine how well they trust machines to automatically conduct dogfights. Air Force pilots have flown L-29 jet trainers also running AI algorithms at the University of Iowa Technology Institute's Operator Performance Laboratory.

Air Force test pilots have flown numerous live flights in L-29 jet trainers at the University of Iowa Technology Institute’s Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL), an ACE performer. The two-seat L-29 jets at OPL are outfitted with sensors in the cockpit to measure pilot physiological responses, giving researchers clues as to whether the pilot is trusting the AI or not.

In less than three years, artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms developed under DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program have progressed from controlling simulated F-16s flying aerial dogfights on computer screens to controlling an actual F-16 in flight. University of Iowa's Operator Performance Lab has contributed to the progress.

Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) director and University of Iowa industrial engineering professor Tom “Mach” Schnell briefed national security leaders on a project seeking to improve artificial intelligence in aerial combat.