Army, Howard University launch AI center

The U.S. Army is helping to guide research at a $7.5 million Department of Defense center of excellence created to deliver artificial intelligence technologies and shape the future.

Managed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, now known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory, the Howard University Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will explore vital civilian applications and multi-domain military operations in three main areas:

  • Key AI applications for DOD
  • Technological foundation for trustworthy AI technologies
  • Infrastructure for AI research and development

Infrastructure plans include fellowships and scholarships for U.S. science, technology, engineering and math graduate students and early-career research faculty at the laboratory. This supports ongoing efforts within the Army’s corporate laboratory to expand its science and technology talent base.

“This center of excellence is a big win for the Army and DOD on many fronts,” said Dr. Brian Sadler, Army senior research scientist for intelligent systems who is managing this partnership for DOD. “The research is directly aligned with Army priorities and will address pressing problems in both developing and applying AI tools and techniques in several key applications.”

Sadler said the laboratory is “privileged to team with Howard University, an intellectual center for the nation.”

“Diversity of science and diversity of the future S&T talent base go hand-in-hand in this new and exciting partnership,” he said.

The center will be led by Howard’s Prof. Danda B. Rawat, professor of computer science and director of Howard’s Data Science & Cybersecurity Center.

Researchers will begin their work in mid-November with a kickoff meeting.

Rawat said the agreement includes collaboration with ARL in research and publications, mentoring, internships, research workshops/seminars, training and research exchange visits at both ARL and Howard.

Source: U.S. Army