MBT M1 Abrams Adopts Artificial Intelligence Technology, Attacking Ability Increases Rapidly
Table of Contents [Show]
As the Main Battle Tank (MBT) mainstay of Uncle Sam's country, the M1 Abrams series continues to get a number of improvements. Having previously discussed the adoption of diesel engines that replace turbine engines. Now there is a touch of artificial intelligence technology (Artificial Intelligence / AI) that is tested to be aligned with the ferocity of the MBT that will compete in this Ukrainian war.
The adoption of artificial intelligence technology in the Abrams MBT aims to increase the ability to detect and neutralize various types of threats.
In the latest photo shared by the US military via the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) website on February 13, 2023, an experimental artificial intelligence (AI) based target recognition system, is seen mounted on the dome of the M1 Abrams MBT.
In fact, the photos were taken on November 5, 2022, as part of the five-week Project Convergence 2022, or PC22, event held in California.
According to the photo caption, engineers and scientists from the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center collaborated with the US Army to evaluate a prototype of the Advanced Program Targeting and Lethality Aided System (ATLAS).
By automating human tasks during passive target acquisition using state-of-the-art sensor technology and machine learning algorithms, ATLAS offers MBT crews the ability to engage three targets in the same amount of time as it would take to fire on one.
A black box can be seen just below the system box sensor unit positioned on the base of the M1 Abrams turret, and similar boxes can be found elsewhere in the vicinity of the tank. It was apparently installed on the tank as part of the Instrumentable-Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (I-MILES CVTESS).
The system uses lasers to simulate conflict and evaluate battle damage by identifying and calculating attacks.
The ATLAS program is intended to assist tank crews in identifying threats they might otherwise ignore and prioritizing potential targets.
According to reports, the ATLAS target recognition system is designed to use machine learning algorithms based on the huge databases that the Army must compile to protect against false information and keep up with changing circumstances.
Nathan Strout at C4ISRNET mentions that the optical sensor mounted on the tank's turret feeds photos of the surrounding area into artificial intelligence algorithms for object detection and image categorization.
The tank commander can then view images of detected threats and options to select which weapons and ammunition are available on the tank's touchscreen monitor interface. Through experimentation and the application of artificial intelligence, the program seeks to speed up target detection, freeing tank personnel from relying solely on manual target location.
Ultimately, adopting ATLAS may give the US Army many advantages. Target selection with the help of artificial intelligence and computers can be used to detect risks that cannot be seen by humans and accelerate the elimination of threats by tank crews.
0 Comments