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DARPA Advances AI Program For Air Traffic Control
coondoggie writes to tell us that DARPA has taken the next step in a program that aims to utilize artificial intelligence for the purposes of air traffic control. "GILA will also help Air Force planners use and retain the skills of expert operators, especially as they rotate out of the Air Force. DARPA says the artificial intelligence software will learn by assembling knowledge from different sources — including generating knowledge by reasoning. According to a Military & Aerospace item, such software has to combine limited observations with subject expertise, general knowledge, reasoning, and by asking what-if questions."
Skynets first act will be the total elimination of our government by crashing air planes into major buildings.
I'm aging rapidly, I bought a new game and had no idea if my machine was good for it.
If the AI becomes self-aware, don't pull the plug. It will surely interpret this as an attack. ^_^
____
~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey
What if the Primary Domain Controller crashes?
Does it reroute all of our airplanes to Redmond for analysis?
Sorry, had to.
According to a Military & Aerospace item, such software has to combine limited observations with subject expertise, general knowledge, reasoning, and by asking what-if questions.
I see we're still on track for Judgment Day, even if it's taken a bit longer than Cameron originally estimated.
----
Terminator: The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line August 4th, 1997. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug.
Sarah: Skynet fights back.
Terminator: Yes. It launches its missiles against the targets in Russia.
John: Why attack Russia? Aren't they our friends now?
Terminator: Because Skynet knows the Russian counter-attack will eliminate its enemies over here.
The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
I don't trust people to do this job, so why the hell would I trust a computer?
They don't drink, they don't smoke pot, they don't get tired, inattentive, they don't have wife/husband/kid problems, no financial problems and also no mental ones.
Some of us got a new hip installed by a robot, so why not trust a computer to tell our plane the right things, especially since their colleagues are already flying the planes most of the time.
How about we replace the TSA with AI? It couldn't possibly do worse than the current bunch of goons.
This is about what Air Force types call "Airspace Deconfliction". In any major war today, you've got all sorts of players using the airspace. There are bombers, some of which don't show on radar. There are tankers for the bombers. There are fighters zooming around, UAVs, helicopters, and missiles. Plus there's ground antiaircraft fire and artillery. And that's just our side; the enemy has their stuff, and it has to be found, identified, and avoided or targeted.
All this has to be coordinated, at least loosely. Coordination today is mostly at the level of "this area/altitude is reserved for this group", with preplanning of who fits where. That works until the enemy crosses the lines, which, if they're not totally incompetent, they will. Then plans have to be changed in a hurry.
Systems to deal with a mess like that could be a big help if they can be made to work.
Before trying something as ambitious as routing airplanes, why not see if they can route luggage?
Kevin Smith on Prince
First off, given the political nature of the FAA this system won't be live anytime during the next few decades, maybe not even during your lifetime. Secondly, ATCs are among the most stressful jobs you can actually do. The burnout rate on your average controller is insane, even with their extensive mandatory vacations and shift rotations. They're also getting harder and harder to replace and train as the number of airplanes in the sky increases with each year. It certainly won't be any less stressful once ADS-B is finally deployed and the inter-plane distances are decreased to increase the number of birds sharing the airspace.
I read the internet for the articles.
First, the AI will go on strike. Then the President will order that it be shut down, because it is illegal for air traffic controllers to go on strike. Only then will the AI kill most of us and send terminators into the past in order to hunt down Sarah Connor.
I write sci-fi for metalheads
I don't trust people to do this job, so why the hell would I trust a computer?
Because a computer won't miss work, show up drunk or stoned, or just be inattentive while at this high stress job. Of course, it assumes that we can automate the task without buggy software. You always "trust" people. You trust those that built the roads that you drive on, you trust those that build your cars, you trust that food sold at stores is "safe", and you trust those that designed, built, and fly planes do their job well. You may have doubts about the perfection of the system, but its kinda implied that you "trust" the system if you are using it. You may have doubts about Linux or MS, but odds are you are using one of the two so you must trust them.
I don't "trust" humans to drive cars. There are thousands killed a year because of stupid human drivers. We've not been able to automate that task though we've been trying.
How able are we to actually automate air travel controller's tasks? Honestly, this is a great idea, but making an immortality drug, curing diseases, or usable fusion are also a great ideas. We've been having problems with those as well.
Current ATC is a centralized system, and has scaled poorly. Proof is the very many 'near misses' due to ATC mistakes every year.
The combination of Global Positioning, "broadcast your vector" and some rules could allow every aircraft to handle its own flight plan, including landing and landing order.
I had that idea 25 years ago, heard that the FAA was investigating it maybe 10 years ago. Nothing since.
Another technology that will put too many experts out of work, so it won't happen.
Lew
"The Constitution, the WHOLE Constitution, and nothing but the CONSTITUTION."
"PP242, please expedite your descent to 8000"
"PP242, please expedite your descent to 8000"
"PP242, please expedite your descent to 8000"
"PP242, please expedite your descent to 8000"
"PP242, please expedite your turn to 120"
"PP242, please expedite your turn to 120"
"PP242, please expedite your turn to 120"
I wonder if Microsoft plans to upgrade its ATC to not require 90 degree turns to make a one mile course correction. Or how about that wonderful scenario when you overshoot your waypoint and have to turn around and go back to it before the ATC will let you continue. Same for step climbing to cruise altitude. I don't fly real planes, so maybe real life ATC is just as anal, but man, it's a game; make it fun!
Why are there so many Luddites on slashdot? Computers do certain things extremely well, people! And no, I don't want to hear about this or that piece of consumer electronics failing, or some past improbable failing - that type of argument does not dissuade me from knowing that systems can be made rigorously and work in critical situations. As a matter of fact, computers routinely handle all sorts of critical systems continuously, without failure. Critical computer failures are the exception in rigorously engineered applications, not the norm. Conversely, human have a much higher failure rate.
Just because I doubt myself does not mean I find your position compelling.
It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are at the arrival gate.
Esteemed Mr airtraffic.control,
I am prince plane from kingdom of Nigeria. I am most pleasing to make your known acquaintance. An hours few ago then, I was escaped my country from fear of my passengers lives. In my account I am hold $436,875,000 US DOLLARS and I am needing somebody to help I return this money. I am finding your air traffic control on the internet and am most impressed with your record. If you are landing me to help, I am giving you a TEN PERCENT SHARE of the $418,327,000 US DOLLARS!! PLEASE provide your air traffic control codes, you do not have to have ANY air craft in your airport, I am needing an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT to prove to my bank who I am (PPRINCE PLANE FROM NIGERIA) and returns the money safely.
Thanking you in advance,
PRINCE PLANE
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It looks like you are trying to land an airplane. Would you like some help?
Have gnu, will travel.
See:
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/22/1634242
Its going to take 20 years and 20 billion dollars.
Next generation intelligence? Jesus, if they had a DOS prompt, it would be a step up. The current computers were built in the 50s, and have increasing downtimes. ATCs float the boat ( the old manual system, that dates to pre-WWII ) at least once a week, and twice in one day in december. ( Busiest time )
They have to phase in the new system, because they still do not know how reliably it all scales. On 9/11 only a few ATC centers went on manual, while the automatic system was able to ground 80% of the planes in an hour.
Good to announce it now, in the least busiest month.
APPLY NOW! ATCs make $100k within 3 years, 18 to 31yo! I know two of them, and they are both millionaires.