FLC | NSIN and AFRL AI for Command Challenge seeks applicants by May 22

NSIN and AFRL AI for Command Challenge seeks applicants by May 22

May 2, 2021

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate, is seeking novel AI-based techniques that push the state of the art to compete in the AI for Command Challenge. Open to all Innovators.

The need for planning is a fundamental task required to support large-scale and complex operations. This challenge is in support of the AI for Command AFVentures Technology Focus Areas. Toward this goal, this challenge specifically seeks to engage industry to take the first steps and develop AI agents.

We challenge participants to develop competent AI players for theater scale, multi-domain operations using a commercial gaming platform. Success will pave the way for a new generation of AI at the speed and scale of military operations.

The challenge is built on the commercial game Command: Modern Operations. Through a series of scenarios this challenge hopes to excite and foster new innovations in the world of AI for planning.

The Competition: Agents will be submitted to the competition organizers. Your team will submit your model, a readme of how to run the agent, and a short paper documenting your approach.

The agents, selected technical approach, and supporting documentation will be evaluated based on:

1. Competition performance against the 4 training and 1 test scenario to include but not limited to the ability of the agent to complete the scenario objectives, completion time, and remaining forces at the end of the scenario;

2. Novelty of the technical approach; and

3. Generalization – how well the approach can generalize to varying scenarios and complexity.

Participants will be evaluated against human-designed opponents and scored based speed and effectiveness over one or more scenarios of interest. While not directly scored, we also desire methods that can provide insight into what factors influence decision making, with a long-term goal of decision support for a human player.

The Grand Prize for this challenge is $100,000. Finalists will be eligible for a Memorandum of Understanding in support of their proposals for a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award.

Interested participants should join us for an “Ask Me Anything” session on Monday, May 10, at 1:00 PM (EDT), featuring Jeff Hudack, Program Manager for AFRL. The session will allow potential AI for Command Challenge participants to develop a deeper understanding of the use cases, technical challenges, and processes for the AI for Command Grand Challenge.