Cognitive Lasers: Combining Artificial Intelligence with Laser Weapon Systems

NPS SE thesis students are studying other aspects of the cognitive laser concept. One study is widening the scope of the problem beyond laser weapon system decisions (Carr 2021). This study is asking the broader question: how do warfare operators on ships make the determination of which weapon to select when they have kinetic weapons and laser weapons to choose from? For this higher-level kill chain function, the operator needs to be able to compare the predicted performance of the kinetic weapon with that of the laser weapon for a given threat scenario. The threat is not stationary--as it moves, the range between the weapon and target changes and therefore the amount of "atmosphere" that the laser beam must traverse changes.