Adapting U.S. Army Acquisition to Ensure the Reliability and Safety of Autonomous Vehicles

This report presents several challenges that the U.S. Army will face in the transition to autonomous vehicles challenges that are only magnified in the current acquisition environment with limited testing. Artificial intelligence algorithms introduce additional complexity, resulting in systems with a complex combination of human, machine, and autonomous controllers. The acquisition process for these autonomous vehicles will require a different approach to ensure that these systems are safe and reliable. Employing a systems view that appropriately considers the complexity of the interactions, along with a combination of currently available tools and techniques early in the development of these systems, is vital to the success of the programs. This will enable the Army to efficiently acquire these capabilities while also providing assurance that they will function as intended.