TEST OF AI & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

The Test of AI & Emerging Technologies (AI-ET) course at Stanford University prepares test pilot school students to shape the future of aerospace by building foundational skills in the design, testing, and control of autonomous and AI-enabled systems.

Traditionally, the aerospace test profession has relied on well-established methods rooted in mathematical modeling to analyze and evaluate systems. Recent advances in computing power and machine learning techniques are transforming this landscape, offering powerful new ways to accelerate flight testing, enhance system performance, and enable autonomous capabilities. These machine learning approaches are driving innovation in dynamic systems that extend beyond the reach of conventional methods. As industry adopts these technologies, flight testers must navigate both the opportunities of exploring new frontiers and the challenges of ensuring these emerging systems remain safe, robust, and trustworthy.

AI-ET bridges this technological evolution by teaching both traditional and data-driven methods for autonomous systems development. Students gain hands-on experience applying these techniques across multiple domains, including robotics and self-driving technologies, preparing them to lead the next wave of aerospace innovation.

Flight test leaders are facing unprecedented challenges as well as new opportunities due to technology advancements at the intersection of AI, autonomy, and aerospace. As they operate in this rapidly shifting landscape, they must wrestle with a few essential questions:

1) How do I apply data science in the flight test domain?
2) How do I test and validate emerging autonomous systems?
3) How do I lead test organizations to appropriately manage risk and innovation?