WEST LAFAYETTE — Indiana is the crossroads of America. Purdue University is pioneering initiatives to turn Indiana into the smart crossroads of America. By 2027, nearly 1 million commercial uncrewed aircraft systems are expected to fly throughout the United States, doing more than delivering packages. These drones will provide key supplies for emergency services, defense, humanitarian aid, and health care and even assist in fighting wildfires.
In response to this expected demand, Purdue is launching a pioneering center that applies artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) to make these transportation systems safe, efficient, and scalable. The Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3) will deliver innovations for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other autonomous systems, focusing on developments that can be scaled up as demand for the technology grows.
What is developed in its laboratory, based at a “smart operating center” at the Purdue University Airport, will be put into real life.
AIDA3 founding partners Purdue and Windracers bring significant strengths to develop technologies for a fast-changing marketplace quickly.
- Windracers, a low-cost logistics champion, is providing invaluable real-world experience that comes with its large-scale UAVs on its patented autopilot system for the Royal Mail, Royal Navy and the British Antarctic Survey.
- Purdue has extensive research expertise across several academic disciplines, including polytechnic, engineering, liberal arts, science, and agriculture.
AIDA3 will investigate AI and ML models for autonomous transportation applications ranging from demand analytics and maintenance in commercial logistics to meteorological sensing and real-time weather prediction.
“Purdue is very proud to partner with Windracers because AIDA3 is focused on solving pressing societal needs,” said Karen Plaut, Purdue’s executive vice president for research. “What we develop in the laboratory will be designed to make a difference when put into real-world practice. Purdue’s research strengths and success in aviation and AI — linked with Windracers’ expertise in future transportation — makes for a powerful innovation engine.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Center on AI for Digital, Autonomous and Augmented Aviation (AIDA3)
- Purdue Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence
- Purdue Computes
- Windracers
To support the R&D programming at AIDA3, Windracers will bring two of its fixed-wing, long-range ULTRA model UAVs to West Lafayette this spring for regular real-world testing. Measuring 20 feet by 30 feet, the ULTRA has a cruising speed of 85 mph and can take off, fly, and land safely without needing a remote pilot. The low-cost, robust, and highly capable platform can carry more than 200 pounds of cargo up to 620 miles, with applications including mail and parcel delivery, humanitarian assistance, defense, and environmental protection.
According to center director Sabine Brunswicker, AIDA3 is the first major output of Purdue’s Institute for Physical Artificial Intelligence (IPAI), whose purpose is to develop AI at the intersection of the virtual and physical worlds. “With IPAI, we focus on practical innovations that bring together the ‘bytes of AI’ and the ‘atoms of what we grow, make and move,’ and AIDA3 will make this reality in the realm of aviation transportation. We are thrilled to be undertaking this journey with our partners at Windracers,” Brunswicker said.
AIDA3’s approach is what sets it apart. Existing AI/ML models are not sufficiently reliable to close the loop from data to actions in the real world in a way that is safe, trustworthy and scalable, said Brunswicker, a Purdue professor of digital innovation and communication.
“Currently, it can take 10 people to operate one UAV. It is time for one operator to be able to coordinate 100 UAVs at the same time,” Brunswicker said. “Our mission is to go beyond current AI/ML models where the potential benefits of smarter UAVs can be fully realized globally. If AIDA3 is successful, its breakthroughs can truly transform society at scale.”
Said Stephen Wright, founder and chair at Windracers: “Our ambition is to revolutionize this industry so it is low cost and fully automated. Purdue is a highly respected academic institution with an incredible heritage in aviation. It also now has a major initiative to develop AI and practical applications rather than just looking at the theory. This collaboration will be the anchor of our R&D and will serve as a platform for the U.S. — a large and dynamic market that is embracing the potential of autonomous aviation.
“The center’s focus on interdisciplinary research in modeling and human-autonomy teaming, developing advanced statistical models and integrated systems that enhance safe, real-world applications and empower human-machine collaboration to overcome key challenges is a central reason why we chose Purdue as a partner,” Wright said.
