The Edge

Balancing the Science and Art of Warfare

As technological advances increasing automate the control of weapons, it is timely to review the skills we need in our warfare professionals. Their core skills will increasingly be maintaining SA and making decisions in confusing and evolving circumstances. We need to ensure the ‘science’ and ‘art’ of warfare are balanced.

The Future is here! 5th Generation Air Force

The F-35 heralds a revolution in how the ADF will fight, as units learn to integrate with 5th Generation technologies and operate as a network, leveraging stealth and information fusion. This article explores the ‘night versus day’ change, which opens the door for related opportunities including man-machine teaming and the ‘loyal wingman’ concept.

ADFA Presentation 2019 – General Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC

The Governor-General of Australia, General Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC, addresses ADFA staff and trainees

Thoughts from The Edge

Mick Ryan is the Commander of the Australian Defence College. This column from Ryan and his contributors focusses on intellectually preparing members of the profession of arms for strategic competition and future conflict.

How to Think (and How Not To)

In this piece, Ben McLennan discusses the pressing need to educate the Army’s workforce on how to think (and how not to). In his discussion, McLennan cogently addresses systems thinking, inherent biases and the need for open-mindedness as part of understanding the recipe to transform Army’s thinking. While specific to McLennan’s Army experience, his observations are equally applicable to other Services and anyone who aspires to think in a way that harnesses a competitive advantage.

Is AI Really a Threat to Humanity?

This article comments on the impact of Cognitive Bias, found in AI systems, on our future. It provides the examples of the biased systems and asks the fundamental questions on our strategy going forward. The article is suitable for all the levels of JMPE continuum, and will be of interest to those particularly interested in Cognitive computing or Artificial Intelligence.

The Royal Australian Air Force Leadership Companion

The Air Force Leadership Companion is designed to assist Air Force personnel in understanding and contextualising the foundations of leadership as espoused in ADDP 00.6 Leadership. This companion explores the context of Social Mastery: Character, Professional Ethics, Followership and Leadership in the Air Force.

CDLE Command Paper 1 - 2016

The CDLE Command Paper 1-2016 is Commodore Peter Scott’s CSC, RAN account of Submarine Command and the issues he faced during his Command. In his paper CDRE Scott covers: qualification to command an Australian submarine, leadership with ultimate accountability and authority, the essential elements of command, purpose, vision and realism as guiding concepts, methods of submarine command, lessons from submarine command, obligations inherent in submarine command, behaviours, and traits to value and nurture.

Capability Boost: Trials Demonstrate Enhanced ViDAR/ScanEagle Package

This article from Jane’s International Defence Review discusses the use of Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) technology on the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system (UAS) platform to provide detection capabilities comparable to radar using Electrooptical (EO) and Infra Red (IR) sensors.

Google Ponders the Shortcomings of Machine Learning

This article discusses Google’s AI research project Google Brain and DeepMind and their explanation for why, despite advances in computing power, machine learning still lags behind human cognitive skills, particularly the ability to “generalize beyond one’s experience”. The article describes the use of graphs of relationships to replicate neural networks as a potential area of future advancement in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Glimpse: How Electronic Tattoos Will Change The World — And Ourselves

Scientists have developed a means to 3D print electronics onto the skin as a form of wearable technology akin to a tattoo. It is proposed that further development of this technology will allow these tattoos to monitor our vitals, and feed us personalized health advice in real time.

Artificial intelligence system uses transparent, human-like reasoning to solve problems

This article describes a method by which a computer can recognise objects using Transparency by Design Network (TbD-Net) developed at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Researchers have used human-like reasoning to develop an algorithm which they claim can outperform other visual recognition software and algorithms because humans can view its reasoning process to determine where and how it is making mistakes.