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June 11, 2018 | Aerospace

Thales propose de l'IA pour le pod Reco NG

Dans le cadre du standard F4 du Rafale, Thales propose d'employer l'intelligence artificielle pour améliorer les performances du pod Reco NG.

Thales propose d'utiliser l'intelligence artificielle pour changer la façon d'employer le pod Reco NG du Rafale. Le Reco NG est utilisé pour réaliser des photos hautes définitions d'un thé'tre d'opération. Ce système peut couvrir 3 000 km2 de terrain en une heure. Mais l'analyse des données à postériori nécessite un important travail de la part des interprétateurs images des armées. Il faut en effet une heure à un spécialiste pour analyser l'équivalent de 10 km2 de terrain explique Thales.Il faut en conséquence un délais de plusieurs heures après le retour de mission du chasseur avant que les données ne puissent être exploitées.

Thales a développé des algorithmes spécifiques aux missions militaires qui pourraient permettre au système de reconnaitre lui même en direct des éléments d'intérêt. Pour apprendre au pod à identifier ces éléments qui intéressent les militaires, les équipes de Thales ont créé deux millions d'images synthétiques reproduisant des zones géographiques, des contextes, des situations météo très divers. Les capacités de discernement du système ont ensuite été confrontées à 10 000 images réelles avec des résultats très positifs annonce Thales.

Cette innovation pourrait changer les profils des missions de reconnaissance du Rafale. Pour l'heure les plans de vols de ce type de missions sont définis à l'avance, le pilote devant orienter son appareil et le pod en fonction des zones d'intérêt qui lui ont été indiquées. L'innovation proposée par Thales permettrait de faire remonter en temps réel vers le pilotes la presence d'éléments interessants. Ce dernier pourrait ainsi réorienter sa mission en cours de vol. Le premier tri en temps réel pourrait aussi permettre d'optimiser la bande passante des liaisons de données en n'envoyant vers les centres de commandement que des images à priori intéressantes.

Physiquement l'intégration de l'IA sur le pod Reco NG se traduirait par l'ajout d'un processeur. Thales a développé des circuits adaptés offrant les capacités de calcul adaptées tout en limitant la consommation de puissance (20 watt).

Le standard F4 du Rafale est en cours de définition. Les armées, la DGA et les industriels échangent et négocient actuellement à propos des innovations qui seront apportées au Rafale dans le cadre de ce programme dont le lancement est prévu cette année.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/thales-propose-de-l-ia-pour-le-pod-reco-ng-111813

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