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Zapata AI to Deliver Real-Time Intelligence for Warfighters

Wednesday, August 14th, 2024

The collaboration aims to enhance real-time intelligence and decision support for USSOCOM’s Hyper-Enabled Operator and Force programs with state-of-the-art AI on the edge

BOSTON, Aug. 13, 2024 — Zapata Computing Holdings Inc. (“Zapata AI”) (Nasdaq: ZPTA), a leading provider of industrial-grade software for enterprise AI, has entered a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Special Operations Command (“USSOCOM”).

Key Highlights of the CRADA include:

• Empowering USSOCOM with advanced AI tools to enhance situational awareness, real-time decision-making, and operational readiness in challenging environments and contested spaces.

• Accelerating USSOCOM’s ability plan, create, and deliver AI-driven advantage to align closely with specific mission objectives and parameters.

• Deepening Zapata AI’s existing relationship across the United States Department of Defense innovation ecosystem.

Under the terms of the CRADA, Zapata AI will leverage its Orquestra® platform to speed up the model development lifecycle (MDLC) and create AI and ML applications that enhance mission performance for USSOCOM’s Hyper-Enabled Force (HEF) initiatives. The decision-support capabilities developed by the partnership will run on the edge in low connectivity environments on ruggedized high-performance computing (HPC) hardware.

“We are proud to support the brave men and women of USSOCOM in defending our national security around the world,” said Christopher Savoie, CEO and co-founder of Zapata AI. “Our battle-tested Orquestra platform, our ability to ingest and process vast amounts of streaming data in real-time, and our experience in rapidly deploying AI solutions in challenging environments will enhance USSOCOM’s operational readiness with cutting-edge intelligence capabilities.”

The collaboration with USSOCOM builds on Zapata AI’s success in supporting Andretti Global’s complex race intelligence and advanced analytics needs. In both cases, Zapata AI deploys an ensemble of small, specialized AI models at the edge, providing real-time analytics and decision support in environments with limited or unpredictable connectivity. Zapata has proven in its production solutions that deploying an ensemble of targeted models, rather than a single large, generalized AI model, delivers superior performance for mission-critical applications where speed and accuracy are paramount.

The CRADA deepens Zapata AI’s existing relationships across the United States Department of Defense landscape. As the only company participating across all tracks of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Quantum Benchmarking program, Zapata AI has led the groundbreaking work to estimate the economic utility and resource requirements for high-value quantum computing applications. In June 2024, Zapata AI and its collaboration partners published the findings from Phase II of the program.

For more information on Zapata AI, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn or X.

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Armaments Research Company Kicks Off Effort to Revolutionize Small Unit Resupply with Army DEVCOM

Wednesday, August 7th, 2024

Highlight:

• ARC artificial intelligence-enabled weapon sensors support efforts within Contested Logistics to explore novel methods for resupplying tactical units.

Washington, D.C. – August 5th, 2024 – Armaments Research Company (ARC) is transforming small unit resupply operations in collaboration with Army DEVCOM. This initiative addresses the longstanding challenge of efficiently maintaining combat units supplied at the front line. By leveraging innovative AI-enabled sensors and warfighter feedback, ARC’s solution automates the ammunition aspect of the standard ACE report for infantry units.

“ARC’s vision for the capability is drone delivered speedballs (ammunition and water) and providing commander’s at every echelon with novel solutions to the centuries old problem of keeping combat units supplied at the front.” – Kyle Rice, ARC CTO.

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Applications Open for US Army Artificial Intelligence Scholars Program

Monday, August 5th, 2024

The Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C) is seeking applicants for their Artificial Intelligence Scholars Program (AISP) Cohort 6.

Open to Active Component officers (Lieutenant to Major) with exceptional academic foundations in computer science, math, and engineering.

There are two programs currently available, the AISP Graduate Degree and the AISP PhD Program.

The AISP Graduate Degree is a highly competitive, 20-22 months of Advanced Civil Schooling at Carnegie Mellon University or the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Degree opportunities include: Masters of Computational Data Science; Masters of Information Systems Management-Business Intelligence Data Analytics; AI data Engineering, and Autonomous System AI Engineering. Advanced Civil Schooling is followed by a 24-month utilization tour at the AI Factory in Pittsburgh, PA.

The AISP PhD Program is an elite 36-month program at Carnegie Mellon University followed by a 3-year utilization tour at the AI Factory. The purpose of this program is to train officers to conduct independent research in AI or related fields. Graduates will extend the body of AI knowledge, apply cutting edge AI research to Army problems, and lead development of Army AI plans and proofs of concept.

Applications are due no later than August 9, 2024: www.hrc.army.mil/content/BOP

For additional information or to begin the application process reach out to: usarmy.pittsburgh-pa.afc-ai2c.mbx.workforce-development@army.mil

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Air Force Special Operations Command and Armaments Research Company Successfully Complete Prototyping Effort

Wednesday, July 24th, 2024

(A Special Operations Mission Sustainment Team member with 27 Special Operations Wing demonstrates firing from cover. Source: 371 Special Operations Combat Training Squadron)

Highlights:

• Milestones completed in collaboration with the 371st Special Operations Training Squadron.

• Technology integration supports future developments for Enhanced Situational Awareness combined with small unmanned aerial systems.

• ARC artificial intelligence-enabled weapon sensors support training for austere airfield defense within Agile Combat Employment.

Washington, DC – July 22, 2024 – Armaments Research Company (ARC) announced today that it has successfully completed a prototyping effort with the United States Air Force Special Operations Command to enhance training for austere airfield defense.

“Over the past year, we’ve worked to develop and demonstrate a tool that will enable connectivity, situational awareness, and decision-making at our tactical echelon. In future conflicts, the USAF must rapidly maneuver our bases and elements across the battlefield to generate combat air power in an expeditionary environment. That level of maneuver requires our tactical leaders command and control their forces, secure their location, and generate combat power.” – Lt Col Sean M. Williams, 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron Commander.

Through ARC’s Engage capability, Airmen are enabled to collect tactical scenario training data in real-time related to orientation of weapons, ammunition consumption, and maneuver of friendly forces.

The effort focused on leveraging advanced technologies and simulation systems to replicate real-world scenarios, providing aircrew members with immersive training experiences that closely mirror operational environments. AFSOC aims to empower its personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in high-intensity, rapidly changing combat situations within emerging Agile Combat Employment doctrine.

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OKSI Awarded USSOCOM and AFRL Contracts for Precision Guidance Seeker for Munitions

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024

LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — OKSI has been awarded multiple contracts totaling nearly $6 million from USSOCOM and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for their ARMGDN seeker. ARMGDN is a capability enhancement to BAE Systems’ APKWS® laser-guidance kit, providing passive target acquisition and tracking for precision engagements. APKWS is a guidance kit for the 2.75 inch Hydra-70 rocket. Together, the APKWS with OKSI’s ARMDGN seeker will facilitate rapid engagements of multiple air or ground targets via ripple fire of multiple precision- guided rockets in rapid succession.

BAE Systems’ APKWS® laser-guidance kit integrated with OKSI’s ARMGDN launch during a test demonstration.

OKSI’s ARMGDN provides DoD with a low-cost precision-guided munition designed to defeat small drones and other unmanned systems. Warfare is on the brink of a major paradigm shift where low-cost robotic systems, UXS, and swarm tactics are an imminent threat and will be used to overwhelm and confuse the opposition. ARMGDN enables rapid engagement of multiple threats simultaneously to thin out swarms and protect personnel and equipment.

“The ARMGDN seeker transforms our defense strategy from a costly war of attrition to a cost-effective campaign of precision,” says Chris HolmesParker, CEO, OKSI. “By harnessing existing rocket inventories, it dramatically cuts the expense of countering UAS threats, aligning our expenditures nearly 1:1 with the drones they counter. This shift from deploying prohibitively expensive munitions to utilizing ARMGDN’s affordable capabilities marks a pivotal move towards sustaining our defense without the economic strain.”

OKSI’s ARMGDN seeker is designed to accommodate a variety of warhead configurations for both a standard air to ground armor defeat capability as well as hard kill of UAS threats. OKSI’s advanced seeker technologies brings not only a new, impressive capability to bear, but also keeps the overall system’s cost at or below the cost of the targets it is designed to defeat.

Learn more at www.oksi.ai

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/oksi-ai

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OKSI’s Seeker Technology for Guided Munitions & CUAS

Wednesday, July 17th, 2024

Lately we’ve been talking about Artificial Intelligence and ways it can make a difference in warfighting. To illustrate our points, we’ve discussed the capabilities of the OMNISCIENCE AI/ML portfolio from OKSI. But that’s not all OKSI does; they also put a lot of effort in enhancing existing warfighting systems with new capabilities.

In addition to the OMNISCIENCE AI/ML portfolio we’ve already mentioned, OKSI also provides seeker technology for guided munitions and unmanned aerial systems defeat. Once again, the technology isn’t taking over, but rather enhances existing capabilities to make them faster, more accurate, and more capable, even in electromagnetically contested environments.

OKSI Booth at AUVSI 2024 (left: ARMGDN Seeker right: 81mm Mortar with PGK)

OKSI has many Passive Seeker Technologies, some examples are their 81mm Precision Guidance Kit, a screw-on EO/IR guidance system for the 81mm Mortar and the ARMGDN, a bolt-on intelligent EO/IR seeker for Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). These systems provide the ability to accurately employ precision munitions and effects even in the absence of GPS or laser guidance.

OKSI’s seeker technologies provides multi-role capability (air to ground, air to air, ground to air, and ground to ground) and adds passive EO/IR guidance to existing munitions that previously only had GPS or laser guidance. They can also be used to provide detection, tracking, and terminal intercept.

The screw-on 81mm PGK allows warfighters to precisely guide mortars onto the desired impact point or predesignated target via OKSI ATAK targeting plug-in. The mortar’s guidance system is able to find, fix, and lock onto target then uses control surfaces to steer the mortar down onto the tracked target. It transforms an inaccurate area weapon into a precision munitions with first round effects.

81mm PGK Test Launch

ARMGDN is a capability enhancement to BAE Systems’ APKWS laser-guidance kit, providing passive target acquisition and tracking for precision engagements. APKWS is a guidance kit for the 2.75 inch Hydra-70 rocket. This fire-and-forget capability is also effective, via proximity fuzing, for hard kill of UAS threats.

BAE Systems’ APKWS® laser-guidance kit integrated with OKSI’s ARMGDN launch during a test demonstration.

Photo courtesy of NAVAIR

These mature technologies have been around for the past couple of years and are ready to employ today with capabilities validated via recent contracts with USSOCOM and USAF.

For more information, visit OKSI.ai.
Follow them on LinkedIn.

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Quantum Systems Deploys Receptor AI in Ukraine for the First Time

Monday, July 15th, 2024

Munich, Germany, 12.07.2024 – Quantum Systems, the Munich-based manufacturer of dual-use reconnaissance drones that use multi-sensor technology to collect data for government agencies and commercial users, confirms for the first time the deployment of a previously unreleased AI sensor upgrade of the type “Receptor AI” in Ukraine. The new upgrade kit is based on a Jetson Orin Nvidia chip and several sensors for the Vector reconnaissance drone. The further development enables optical navigation during the day and at night and in poor visibility conditions, as well as automated AI-supported object recognition and identification.

Enabling navigation in GNSS-denied conditions
In times of electronic warfare, navigation is the biggest challenge for the use of drones. The new Quantum Systems upgrade offers a further option for signal-independent positioning of reconnaissance drones and fundamentally improves their use under GNSS-denied conditions. The new module is being tested and further developed at the company’s recently opened development site in Ukraine.

“Receptor AI” enables autonomous flight at night and in bad weather thanks to infrared-supported visual navigation. Object sensor technology has also been significantly improved. Hardware and software upgrades now allow better object detection, classification, identification and tracking of objects.

Equal weight and range of the system with update kit

“We are implementing the upgrade without any weight changes and with the same range,” says Daniel Kneifel, Director of Software Engineering at Quantum Systems. “We are designing these adaptations without fundamental changes to the existing platform architecture.”

“We are demonstrating that AI does not have to be an abstract topic, but offers tangible benefits in use. For Quantum Systems, the combination of hardware and software is crucial to being able to offer market-leading solutions in the field of aerial intelligence.”

Sven Kruck
CRO and Managing Director
Quantum Systems

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OMNISCIENCE by OKSI – OMNIseek

Friday, July 12th, 2024

So far this week, we’ve introduced you to OMNISCIENCE, an overarching AI environment by OKSI, used to enhance current unmanned aerial systems with software to speed the ability to identify and characterize the operating environment. To add context, we offered a video depicting OMNInav which is used for UAV navigation in GPS-denied environments, analyzing the terrain as the UAV flies, comparing it to mapping data and maintaining position on the fly.

This video explains OMNIseek which provides Automatic Detection and Recognition (ATD/ATR). This goes way beyond the phase change detection systems we’ve seen in the past by not only detecting items of interest in the field of view, but characterizing what they are as well.

OMNISCIENCE components can be used alone or in conjunction with one another, depending on customer requirements and each application is customized to the user’s existing equipment.

OKSI is a privately held small business headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Learn more at www.oksi.ai.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/oksi-ai

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