DAHLGREN, Va. –
Don’t miss the chance to win $50,000 for your college or university! The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division is hosting a challenge where competing teams can put their skills to the test and walk away with the top prize. The challenge is to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for the automated scheduling and coordination of simulated directed energy, hypervelocity projectiles and other advanced weapon systems. It’s comprised of two phases – a white paper and an in-person event March 2-4, 2023 at the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren Campus. Phase 1 is a white paper and the deadline for it is November 15 at 11:59 p.m.
A question and answer session will be scheduled and announced on Challenge.gov at https://www.challenge.gov/?challenge=artificial-intelligence-(ai)-and-machine-learning-(ml)-algorithm-development-challenge
Dahlgren’s Chief Technology Officer, Jennifer Clift said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring our nation’s brightest students together for an innovation challenge where they will have an opportunity to use the same software and technology that our scientists and engineers use, to develop solutions for the warfighter in ways that NSWCDD has not yet explored.”
In Phase 2, the teams will be asked to demonstrate the advantages of AI/ML integration into naval systems and warfighting capabilities. Each team will develop an algorithm using AI/ML to defend their friendly ships against enemy ships of varying sizes and capabilities.
At the conclusion of Phase 2, each participant will provide NSWCDD a source code of the team’s algorithm and libraries used, build instructions for the algorithm to run on the host platform, a working executable for the host platform and a brief describing the technical approach used, key challenges conquered and overview of the results on the test area.
Teams of five or less are invited to submit white papers demonstrating their knowledge of advanced AI/ML skills, their ability to develop and apply advanced AI/ML algorithms and their strategy and plans to approach Phase 2. In Phase 2, the teams will be asked to demonstrate the advantages of AI/ML integration into naval systems and warfighting capabilities. Each team will develop an algorithm using AI/ML to defend their friendly ships against enemy missiles of varying capabilities.
The prize purse totals $100,000 – 1st place is $50,000, 2nd place is $30,000, and 3rd place is $20,000 – to the winning teams’ respective colleges or universities.
All winners will be recognized on the NSWCDD website at https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Dahlgren/
The 1st place team will be given the opportunity to present their submission to NSWCDD for potential naval application. In-person challenge participants who identified innovative ideas, but were not selected for cash prizes, may be invited to share their ideas on NSWCDD’s website.
This is the second innovation challenge NSWCDD has hosted. The first was a high school innovation challenge in April 2022, where 100 students competed in a naval-themed robotics competition.
“We are actively involved in all facets of STEM, working closely with students via Coding Clubs, Middle and High School Camps, and Robotics workshops and challenges,” said NSWCDD Technical Director Dale Sisson, SES. “As a part of our outreach, we are also committed to partnering with colleges and universities to explore new technologies for solving future naval challenges and delivering more resilient and cost effective capabilities faster to the warfighter.”
To submit a white paper today, visit the Challenge.Gov website.