Test and Evaluation of Autonomy for Air Platforms

Tools, approaches, and insights to confidently approach the safe, secure, effective, and efficient testing of autonomy on air platforms.

Air Force Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California

The 2018 National Defense Strategy emphasizes that the effective implementation of autonomy is essential for future engagements. Key to this implementation is the ability to test and evaluate systems that perform autonomous tasks. The purpose of this research is to equip testers with tools, approaches, and insights to confidently approach the testing of autonomy on air platforms. The air domain is chosen specifically for its applicability to the Air Force mission and to help scope the focus of this research. The intent is not to be an exhaustive reference for testing and evaluating autonomy; rather, the goal is to provide a launching point for greater investigation.

Testing autonomy on airborne platforms brings unique challenges and, therefore, to be successful, testing should leverage the following five principles: Early User Involvement, Continuous and Cumulative Feedback, Streamlined Process and Products, Pilot Training Approach, and Human-Machine Interaction Consideration. The overarching test approach is split into two paradigms: three phases of test and Agile Development and Operations (DevOps).