The military, as part of its push toward more autonomous systems, has put an emphasis on the idea of man-machine teaming, and the Air Force is now focusing on a key aspect of that idea—building trust between the two. The service has awarded a $7.5 million contract to SRA International for research that will specifically focus on trust in autonomy, according to a Defense Department contract announcement. Developing man-machine teaming, in which humans work cooperatively with robotic systems, is among the cornerstones of DOD’s Third Offset Strategy, announced last year as a way to keep up with fast-developing, asymmetrical tactics used by adversaries. The Navy, for example, is pursuing that strategy for both air and sea vehicles (surface and submerged) under its N99 directorate. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency also is looking to incorporate a man-machine approach to improving manufacturing, with regard to 3D printing techniques.
