Military

The U.S. Army Might Just Have a 'Secret Weapon' to Win the Next Big War

Rapid access to historical databases and sensor information, made available by AI-driven computer automation such as that used by IBM’s Watson, allows commanders to quickly identify and anticipate mechanical failures, equipment functionality and service life details. As a result, wireless connectivity and more AI-driven conditioned-based maintenance expedites analysis and allows for near real-time decision-making, Army developers explained.

Army weapons developers recently completed a "proof-of-principle" exercise with Stryker vehicles using wireless devices, faster computer processing speed, cloud technology and artificial intelligence to expedite vehicle health monitoring and anticipate future needs for the platform.

The initiative is tied to the Army’s recent $135 million Army Logistics Support Activity (LOGSA) renewal deal with IBM, the firm contracted to continue providing cloud services, software development and cognitive computing, constituting the technical infrastructure.

“We see huge potential benefits with cloud computing from artificial intelligence,” Col. John Kuenzli, LOGSA commander, told Warrior.