DARPA announces Agile Teams program

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced the launch of its Agile Teams program.

The project, launched in response to what DARPA calls an increasingly complex security environment, aims to discover, test, and demonstrate mathematical methods to optimize human-intelligence machine systems.

"A-Teams is focused not on developing new AI technologies per se, but on developing a framework for optimizing the use of smart machines in various roles together with humans to ensure optimal human-machine teamwork for solving dynamic problems," DARPA program manager John Paschkewitz explained in a press release.

A-team outputs will include algorithms, abstractions and architectures for a machine-based "intelligent fabric" aiming to improve decision-making on the field. DARPA officials add that machine elements could present themselves in a variety of ways, include a problem-solving workspace.

"Given an uncertain environment and fluid team structure, how does one best use combined human and machine capabilities to make wise decisions? Are there generalizable mathematical abstractions to capture the dynamic interactions of problem space, team structure, and performance? These are the kinds of questions we intend to answer in the program," Paschkewitz continued.

To support the program, DARPA researchers are seeking experts in operations research, organizational theory, mathematics, cognitive science and other related fields to assist with their efforts.