Introduction to Air Mobility Command’s 618th Air Operations Center
The 618th Air Operations Center (AOC) is a crucial part of the U.S. Air Force, responsible for directing a thousand-wide fleet of aircraft. The center’s controllers work around the clock to plan missions, determining the best routes to fly, how much time is needed for fueling or loading supplies, and which pilots can fly specific missions. This complex process enables the U.S. Air Force to respond quickly to national security needs around the globe.
The Challenge of Coordination
In the past, coordination between pilots, crew, and controllers was done through phone and email. However, with the introduction of chat messaging, the process has become more efficient. Colonel Joseph Monaco, the director of strategy at the 618th AOC, notes that "it takes a lot of work to get a missile defense system across the world, for example, and this coordination used to be done through phone and email. Now, we are using chat, which creates opportunities for artificial intelligence to enhance our workflows."
The Role of Artificial Intelligence
The 618th AOC is working with Lincoln Laboratory to develop artificial intelligence (AI) tools to enhance their workflows. The project, called Conversational AI Technology for Transition (CAITT), aims to leverage natural language processing (NLP) to improve the center’s operations. NLP allows models to read and process human language, enabling the extraction of major trends in chat conversations, retrieval of specific information, and identification of critical decision points.
CAITT Tools
CAITT encompasses a suite of tools that utilize NLP to improve the 618th AOC’s operations. Some of the tools include:
- Topic summarization: extracts trending topics from chat messages and formats them in a user-friendly display
- Semantic search: improves the chat service’s search engine to return intelligent results based on user intent
- Automatic user addition: adds users to chat conversations deemed relevant to their expertise
- Predictive ground time: predicts the amount of ground time needed to unload specific types of cargo from aircraft
- Regulatory document summarization: summarizes key processes from regulatory documents to guide operators in developing mission plans
Development and Transition
The CAITT project grew out of the DAF–MIT AI Accelerator, a collaboration between MIT, Lincoln Laboratory, and the Department of the Air Force to develop and transition AI algorithms and systems. The project is part of a broader effort to transition AI technology into the Next Generation Information Technology for Mobility Readiness Enhancement (NITMRE) initiative. As the laboratory researchers advance their prototypes, they are transitioning them to the 402nd Software Engineering Group, which will implement the tools into the operational software environment used by the 618th AOC.
Conclusion
The 618th Air Operations Center’s use of artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way they plan and execute missions. With the help of CAITT tools, the center can respond more quickly and efficiently to national security needs. As the project continues to develop and transition, it is likely to have a significant impact on the U.S. Air Force’s ability to respond to global security threats.
FAQs
- What is the 618th Air Operations Center?
The 618th Air Operations Center is a part of the U.S. Air Force responsible for directing a thousand-wide fleet of aircraft. - What is CAITT?
CAITT stands for Conversational AI Technology for Transition, a project that aims to leverage natural language processing to improve the 618th AOC’s operations. - What are some of the tools being developed as part of CAITT?
Some of the tools include topic summarization, semantic search, automatic user addition, predictive ground time, and regulatory document summarization. - How will CAITT tools be implemented?
The tools will be implemented into the operational software environment used by the 618th AOC by the 402nd Software Engineering Group. - What is the goal of the CAITT project?
The goal of the CAITT project is to enhance the 618th AOC’s workflows and improve their ability to respond quickly and efficiently to national security needs.
