Podcast Summary
Lockheed Martin's Role in Engineering Marvels and Space Exploration: Lockheed Martin's CTO, Kyoki Jackson, has been part of creating technological feats from supersonic jets to interplanetary missions, leaving a lasting impression on him. He dreams of human colonization on other planets and continues to push tech boundaries, including AI, for good causes.
Kyoki Jackson, the CTO of Lockheed Martin, shares a passion for engineering marvels and space exploration. Throughout his career, he's been part of creating some of the most impressive technological feats, from supersonic jets to interplanetary missions. Lockheed Martin's role in these projects, from the dawn of the jet age to the modern era of space travel, has left a lasting impression on Jackson. He dreams of the day when humans colonize other planets and shares this sentiment for space exploration. Lockheed Martin continues to push the boundaries of technology, including AI, to contribute to good causes and make the world a better place.
Lockheed Martin's Focus on Human Space Exploration: Lockheed Martin is committed to human space exploration, aiming for a sustainable presence in deep space, starting with a lunar base, while addressing affordability, habitation, and infrastructure challenges. Robotic exploration is also advancing, enabling virtual human presence and continuous data collection.
Lockheed Martin is dedicated to advancing human space exploration, with a focus on deep space journeys to the moon and eventually Mars. Their goal is to establish a sustainable presence in space, leading to a space economy. The near-term vision is to establish a base in cis-lunar space for easy transfer between orbit and the lunar surface. The challenges include making launches more affordable, enabling permanent habitation, and sustaining infrastructure. Robotic exploration has also advanced significantly, providing virtual human presence on other planets and enabling continuous data collection. Ultimately, Lockheed Martin aims for a long-term, sustainable human presence in space beyond low Earth orbit.
Revolutionizing Space Exploration with Human-AI Collaboration: Advanced cognitive systems, decision systems, and human ingenuity are revolutionizing space exploration through autonomous piloting, high-speed imagery, and human adaptability. Robots like Cyrus Rex and AI assistants like Maya are essential, but human presence remains crucial for dealing with anomalies and new information.
The collaboration between advanced cognitive systems, decision systems, and human ingenuity is revolutionizing space exploration. This is evident in the development of missions like the Cyrus Rex to asteroid Bennu, which uses autonomous piloting, high-speed imagery, and innovative techniques like the "Pogo stick collection" to map and sample asteroids. While robotic and autonomous systems are crucial, the human ability to adapt to new information and make quick decisions is still essential. Space missions like Apollo 13 demonstrate the importance of human presence in dealing with anomalies and new information. In the future, AI assistants like "Maya" will support astronauts in space, working hand in hand with advanced digital libraries and model-based systems engineering to design, build, and sustain space exploration systems. Ultimately, the combination of advanced technology and human ingenuity is pushing the boundaries of space exploration and opening up new opportunities for discovery.
Integrating AI and human expertise for future space exploration: Lockheed Martin invests in AI research for future space systems, including digital twins, but challenges lie in verifying and validating non-deterministic learning systems. Autonomy and AI will be integral to all future space systems, requiring modeling at human complexity levels for handling data and ensuring safety.
The future of space exploration and spacecraft operations relies on the integration of advanced AI systems and human expertise. These AI systems, such as digital twins, will be developed on Earth using sophisticated models based on decades of space research. However, the challenge lies in verifying and validating these non-deterministic learning systems, especially when they go beyond initial design parameters. Lockheed Martin is investing in research to address these challenges and anticipates that autonomy and AI will be integral to all their future space systems, from no autonomy to full autonomy. These systems, which can learn and adapt, will require modeling at the same complexity level as humans. The goal is to create systems that can handle the vast amount of data in space and offer opportunities for exploration while ensuring safety and understandability for human operators.
The importance of a safety culture in complex systems: A strong safety culture prioritizes continuous improvement, skepticism, and inquiry to ensure the safety and predictability of complex systems, especially those with significant human-machine interaction and vast amounts of software code.
Ensuring the safety and predictability of complex systems, especially those with significant human-machine interaction and vast amounts of software code, requires a culture that prioritizes safety, continuous inquiry, and skepticism. This is particularly crucial in industries like aerospace, where the stakes are high and the potential consequences of failure can be catastrophic. The Boeing 737 MAX crashes serve as a reminder of the importance of such a culture, which includes a commitment to continuous improvement and root cause analysis. The complexity of modern systems makes it challenging to test every potential scenario, but a strong safety culture can help mitigate risks. It's not just about technology; it's about people and their mindset. Industries and societies should learn from past incidents and work towards building a culture that values safety and continuous improvement. Lockheed Martin, for instance, is an example of a company that has successfully established such a culture.
Innovative Solutions for Complex Mission Problems: Lockheed Martin, a century-old company, continues to deliver advanced technology solutions for defense, space, and aerospace industries, focusing on customer needs and achieving milestones in innovation
Lockheed Martin, with its rich history spanning over a century, is a company that consistently tackles complex mission problems. From the SR-71's high-altitude reconnaissance to today's most advanced fighter jets and space exploration, Lockheed Martin's focus remains on understanding customer needs and delivering innovative solutions. The company's portfolio includes tactical aircraft, space technology, navigation and timing systems, communication satellites, missile warning satellites, commercial satellites, and critical defensive systems like Aegis and THAD. These systems protect not only military capabilities but also population areas. Throughout its history, Lockheed Martin has achieved impressive milestones in innovation, such as stealth technology and supersonic and hypersonic speeds. The Skunk Works division, driven by Kelly Johnson's 14 principles, has been a catalyst for many of these breakthroughs.
A small team's remarkable feats: Stealth and Hypersonic technology: A motivated team can innovate and accomplish remarkable feats, such as stealth technology's radar invisibility and hypersonic technology's supersonic speed, despite ongoing challenges in detection and innovation
A small, highly motivated team of capable individuals, shielded from bureaucracy and with a tight relationship with customers, can accomplish remarkable feats, as demonstrated by the development of stealth technology. Stealth technology involves making objects, such as aircraft, essentially invisible to radar by manipulating the way radar waves are reflected or absorbed. This is a continuous game of innovation. Another area of focus is hypersonic technology, which involves flying at speeds faster than the speed of sound. Hypersonic development has been ongoing since the late 60s, but there is renewed urgency due to the perceived threat of hypersonic weapons from countries like Russia and China. The defensive challenge is detecting hard-to-see objects, and this is an ongoing capability development. For example, Lockheed Martin proved that a bullet could hit a bullet in the 80s, leading to hit-to-kill capabilities like PAC-3 and THAD. Now, hypersonics represent the next step in defensive capability.
Inspiring the Next Generation with Aerospace and Defense Innovations: The F-35 jet and other advanced aerospace and defense technologies inspire students, demonstrate hard work and innovation, and have a significant impact on people's lives through mission capabilities like GPS and autonomy.
While many advanced technologies and projects in aerospace and defense industries are classified due to their nature, it's essential to inspire young engineers and scientists by sharing the excitement and impact of these innovations on people's lives. The F-35 jet, for instance, with its advanced capabilities, can inspire students and demonstrate the importance of hard work and innovation. The mission aspect of these technologies is crucial, as seen in the use of GPS, which touches billions of people daily and can bring troops home safely. Moreover, the future of aerospace and defense lies not only in traditional aircraft and spacecraft but also in advanced software capabilities, AI, and machine learning, which can exponentially increase mission capabilities and make a significant difference in people's lives. Autonomy in flight is already a reality, with remotely piloted aircraft and advanced autonomy features in the F-35, and it's an exciting area to explore further. Ultimately, sharing the stories of inspiration and impact can help bridge the gap between classified projects and the public's understanding of the importance and potential of these technologies.
Advanced autonomy in aviation enhances capabilities and safety: The F-35 jet showcases autonomy in landing, saving lives with collision avoidance systems, and human-machine teaming is becoming more common at the tactical edge, despite complexities like G-loc detection being addressed.
Autonomy is increasingly playing a significant role in modern aviation, enhancing the capabilities of human pilots and improving safety. The F-35 jet, for instance, demonstrates advanced autonomy in its landing process, freeing up the pilot to manage multiple aircraft as a mission manager. Autonomous systems like auto GCAS and integrated collision avoidance systems have already saved lives by preventing collisions and groundings. While full autonomous flight without human intervention is not yet here, human-machine teaming is becoming more prevalent, especially at the tactical edge. However, the integration of autonomy raises complexities, such as detecting G-loc in pilots, which is being addressed through advanced systems. Overall, autonomy is a game-changer in aviation, enhancing safety, efficiency, and mission capabilities.
AI and Autonomy in Military and Commercial Sectors: AI and autonomy enhance safety, empower teams, and process data faster than humans, but concerns about control and decision-making capabilities in the AI arms race persist.
Autonomy and AI are revolutionizing various industries, including military and commercial sectors, by providing an empowering effect, enhancing safety, and assisting teams. However, there are concerns about the potential risks and challenges, particularly the AI arms race, where the control and decision-making capabilities might be given too much to software or AI. The world is facing numerous geopolitical tensions and threats, making it crucial to explore and utilize advanced technologies like AI and hypersonics to address these challenges. The nanosecond processing time of computers compared to human reaction time highlights the significance of these technologies on the battlefield. The Department of Defense is putting thought into the policy implications of these advancements, recognizing the need to keep up with the dynamic technology landscape and maintain control.
Ensuring Human Control Over Autonomous Weapon Systems: The US DoD's Directive 3000.09 emphasizes human agency and control over autonomous weapon systems, with Lockheed Martin fully complying. Ethical considerations, including privacy and eliminating bias, are crucial alongside AI's benefits for production efficiency and logistics.
AI and autonomous systems are becoming increasingly important in military and defense applications due to their ability to handle tasks beyond the length of time a human can practically do. However, it's crucial that these systems remain under human control. The US Department of Defense has issued Directive 3000.09 to ensure human agency and control over the use of semi-autonomous and autonomous weapon systems. Lockheed Martin, a leading technology company, is fully compliant with these policies and regulations. While AI brings numerous benefits to Lockheed Martin, such as improving production efficiency and logistics, ethical considerations, including privacy and eliminating bias, are also crucial. The long-term future of nuclear deterrence, a key aspect of human civilization's survival, may involve the role of AI and technology in maintaining peace and preventing potential catastrophic conflicts. Lockheed Martin, as a major player in nuclear deterrence systems, recognizes the importance of ethical principles in governing the use of AI within their organization.
Preparing for Evolving National Security Threats: Lockheed Martin's role in developing advanced technology for strategic deterrence against nuclear, cyber, and other threats, ensuring essential relevance through a diverse business portfolio.
The world today is more complex and challenging than ever before in terms of national security threats. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the emergence of new threats like cyber attacks require a robust strategic deterrent. Deterrence involves being prepared to defend and retaliate, and maintaining adaptable systems that can respond to various scenarios. The character of strategic deterrence has changed with the addition of cyber threats, which can target critical infrastructure. Lockheed Martin, as a leader in engineering and technology, plays a critical role in developing systems to address these challenges. While the military industrial complex should not grow beyond what is needed, Lockheed Martin's diverse business portfolio, including commercial applications, ensures that it remains essential and relevant. The world is dynamic, and the need for advanced technology to address evolving threats will continue to be crucial.
Exploring the Unknown: The Future of Defense and Military Systems: Lockheed Martin, with its expertise and embrace of competition, continues to innovate in defense and military systems, from cubesats to smartsats and software-defined satellites, poised for the next 100 years of technological advancements.
The global security landscape is evolving, necessitating significant investments in defense and military systems. These complex, high-stakes projects require close partnerships between customers and manufacturers due to their unique and demanding nature. Competition, driven by advancements in technology and computing power, is essential for innovation in the space industry, with new players like SpaceX and Elon Musk bringing fresh ideas. Lockheed Martin, with its long-standing expertise, is embracing this competition and continues to push the boundaries of innovation, from early cubesats to smartsats and software-defined satellites. Looking ahead, the next 100 years promise continued technological advancements, and Lockheed Martin, as a company that has continually reinvented itself, is poised to explore the unknown.
A vision of the future with AI, autonomy, and quantum computing: Lockheed Martin's CTO envisions a future of faster speeds, increased connectivity, autonomy, and complexity, with investments in AI, autonomy, and quantum computing to stay ahead of these changes and potential threats. Expectations include human presence in the solar system, advanced knowledge of our planet, and defense against unforeseen military threats.
The future will be characterized by faster speeds, increased connectivity, autonomy, and complexity. As CTO of Lockheed Martin, this is the world Brackett envisions, with investments in technologies like AI, autonomy, and quantum computing to stay ahead of these changes and potential threats. Looking forward, we can expect human presence in the solar system, advanced knowledge of our planet, and the defense against unforeseen military threats. Brackett is excited about the advancements that lie ahead in the next decade, including the steps towards realizing these goals. Despite the delay in their conversation, Brackett expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to discuss these topics.
