Flying high with AI drone racing at AlphaPilot

Origins

Keith Lynn, the AlphaPilot Program Manager at Lockheed Martin, shares his journey leading to the inception of the AlphaPilot program. With a background in physics and mathematics, he transitioned from signals intelligence to managing R&D in various fields, eventually landing in the autonomous systems group at Lockheed Martin. Keith's curiosity and desire for a challenging project aligned perfectly with the company's vision for a global innovation challenge focused on AI and autonomy.

It's been one of the longest years for me on record, that's for sure. But I couldn't be happier.

--- Keith Lynn

This led to the creation of AlphaPilot, an initiative aiming to showcase Lockheed Martin's commitment to artificial intelligence 1 2.

   

Impact

The AlphaPilot program is set to revolutionize AI and drone racing by making these technologies accessible and inspiring to the public. Keith Lynn emphasizes the historical role of racing as a catalyst for technological adoption, drawing parallels to the early days of automobiles. By broadcasting races on platforms like NBC Sports and Twitter, AlphaPilot aims to demystify AI and autonomy, encouraging public engagement and ownership.

We want to make artificial intelligence and autonomy part of everybody's lives.

--- Keith Lynn

The program's first race at the University of Central Florida will feature Lockheed Martin products and professional pilots, aiming to inspire the next generation of AI enthusiasts 3 4.