Biomimicry Gives a Lift to AI in Aviation – Northrop Grumman

Who among us hasn't stared up at a hawk or a vulture circling lazily in the sky and wondered how they stay aloft so long? Or wondered how sky-darkening flocks of migrating birds can travel thousands of miles so quickly and so effortlessly? Researchers are now able to tackle these questions more systematically using biomimicry, the process of imitating nature's systems to solve complex human problems. Their goal is to develop an artificial intelligence algorithm that will allow gliders -- either piloted or autonomous sailplanes -- to mimic the flight behavior and endurance of birds. Soon, AI in aviation will transform the types of missions that gliders perform.