REU Site: Swarms of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Age of AI/Machine Learning

安布里-里德尔航空大学建立了一个新的本科生研究体验(REU)网站，让参与者参与无人机群的研究。无人机群的新兴概念，即无人机根据共享信息自主做出决策的能力，创造了具有重大社会影响的新机会。然而，未来的无人机群应用和服务带来了新的网络挑战。人工智能和机器学习研究的复兴为应对这些网络挑战提供了巨大的机遇。在人工智能/机器学习时代，迫切需要培养一支强大的劳动力队伍，使其能够支持未来的无人机群应用和服务。该项目在安布里-里德尔航空大学建立了一个新的本科生研究体验(REU)网站，重点是在人工智能/机器学习时代为无人机群进行网络研究。REU网站的目标是：(1)吸引本科生参与最先进的无人机群研究，特别是来自代表性不足群体和机会有限的机构的研究；(2)通过指导参与者对无人机群进行研究，发展他们的研究能力；(3)提高参与者的技术技能，使其能够对无人机群进行各种有益的应用；(4)促进参与者的人工智能/机器学习和无人机群综合能力；以及(5)为参与者的职业生涯培养专业技能。REU网站的重点是为未来的无人机群应用和服务设计、分析和评估创新的计算和网络技术。具体地说，将在三个重点领域开展研究活动，特别是动态网络管理、网络协议设计和将人工智能/机器学习付诸实施。每年有8名本科生参加为期10周的暑期REU项目，在拥有丰富人工智能/机器学习和无人机群经验的研究导师的指导下，为无人机群进行联网研究。这个REU网站预计将培养劳动力知识和技能，为未来的无人机群应用程序和服务开发新的计算和网络技术。该网站由国防部保证计划与NSF REU计划合作支持。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University establishes a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site to engage participants in research in drone swarms. The emerging concept of drone swarms, which is defined as the ability of drones to autonomously make decisions based on shared information, creates new opportunities with major societal implications. However, future drone swarm applications and services pose new networking challenges. A resurgence of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning research presents a tremendous opportunity for addressing these networking challenges. There is an overwhelming need to foster a robust workforce with competencies to enable future drone swarm applications and services in the age of AI/machine learning. The project establishes a new Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site with a focus on networking research for drone swarms in the age of AI/machine learning at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The goals of the REU Site are: (1) attract undergraduate students to state-of-the-art drone swarm research, especially those from underrepresented groups, and from institutions with limited opportunities; (2) develop the research capacity of participants by guiding them to perform research on drone swarms; (3) grow the participants’ technical skills to enable a wide variety of beneficial applications of drone swarms; (4) promote the participants’ integrated AI/machine learning and drone swarm competencies; and (5) prepare participants with professional skills for careers. The focus of the REU Site is on the design, analysis and evaluation of innovative computing and networking technologies for future drone swarm applications and services. To be specific, research activities will be conducted in three focus areas, notably dynamic network management, network protocol design, and operationalizing AI/machine learning for drone swarms. Each year eight undergraduate students will participate in a ten-week summer REU program to perform networking research for drone swarms under the guidance of research mentors with rich experiences in AI/machine learning and drone swarms. This REU site is expected to foster workforce knowledge and skills about developing new computing and networking technologies for future drone swarm applications and services. This site is supported by the Department of Defense ASSURE program in partnership with the NSF REU program.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.