The Air Force released a list of areas in which it’s interested, including interoperability among networked simulators; cloud-based simulators; and performance-based training, data collection and analysis.

Maj. Patrick Kawonczyk, who will lead the Simulators Pitch Day event Dec. 4, told Defense News that artificial intelligence can be used “within a learning management system to suggest techniques, tactics or procedures, which need to be practiced more for proficiency.”

Kawonczyk added that AI could benefit the service by improving data analysis, conceptual developmental ideas and predictive analysis in maintenance.

“AI bridges the gap between the human and machine interface,” Col. Philip Carpenter, the senior materiel leader with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Simulator Program Office, said in an email. “It helps orchestrate the interaction with a student and then presents learning material in response to a student’s performance. This allows better customization and can help address the unique needs of each student.”

Proposals from industry are due July 1, after which a two-week evaluation process will occur and then a one-week contracting period, according to an Air Force news release.

The proposal period will be broken up into two phases. The first will involve awards to small businesses, which can then submit proposals for the second phase.

“Select companies with Phase I or Phase II proposals will be invited to present to an Air Force panel at the Simulators Pitch Day event Dec. 4 in Orlando, Florida,” the release said.

After the Simulators Pitch Day, all companies involved can present pitches to defense industry executives and venture capitalists at a media event, the release notes.

“We are not asking small business to go out and invent something new,” Margaret Merkle, program manager in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Simulators Division, said in the news release. “We are asking if they have technology that we can leverage for the Air Force. Ultimately the idea is to connect with industry which will help us move into the latest technological space faster.”

In a May 23 announcement on the Federal Business Opportunities web site, contracting officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base said they plan to order the InstantEye MK-3 GEN4-D1 Unmanned Aerial System from Physical Sciences Inc.

The contract is expected to be placed as a sole source order, meaning that no other company was considered for the contract. The Air Force said in the announcement that Physical Sciences Inc. is the only company that produces Air Force approved quadcopter systems.

The order is expected to include two small unmanned aircraft systems, one tactical sensor controller with two batteries, one charger, one spare kit, and one transport kit, the announcement said.

The MK-3 GEN4-D1 is part of the InstantEye digital fleet. As a security precaution, the drone transfers data to a ground control station and does not store information on the aircraft.

According to the InstantEye Robotics website, the Mk-3 GEN4-D1 weighs about 3 pounds and can carry a payload of 3 pounds. It has a video range of 4 kilometers and can fly for up to 30 minutes depending on wind speed and payload.

The InstantEye can withstand up to 20 mph wind, which allows it to have high accuracy in charge placement for improvised explosive devices. InstantEye Systems also feature thermal imaging systems, still photo, and geo rectification capability, which links photos to a coordinate system so they can be located on a map.

The InstantEye is not new technology for the Department of Defense. For fiscal 2019, the Navy and Marine Corps requested 200 InstantEye quadcopters, likely part of a “quads for squads” program.