Airfield Autonomy Initiative (AAI) is a $2.25 million initiative led by the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park (NARTP), the ACEA, the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, and the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command.
This initiative challenges industry to develop autonomous vehicles that can operate safely and securely in airport environments. Initial areas of focus for AAI include foreign object debris (FOD) detection, lawn mowing, perimeter detection and security, as well as command and control systems.
In August, NARTP hosted a successful three-day conference with AAI stakeholders, including representatives from the Air Force, the FAA, and participating companies. As part of this program, southern New Jersey is becoming a significant region for research and development of autonomous vehicles. More AAI testing is scheduled to take place at the Atlantic City International Airport smart airport testbed in spring 2025.