MIT Engineer Develops AI-Powered Drones for Automated Airfield Assessments
In a groundbreaking development, Randall Pietersen, a U.S. Air Force civil engineer and MIT PhD candidate, is pioneering the use of AI-powered drones for automated airfield assessments. This innovative approach promises to enhance safety, speed, and efficiency in evaluating airfield damage and detecting unexploded ordnance, moving away from traditional, potentially dangerous manual inspections.
Pietersen’s work is driven by the need for rapid and remote airfield assessments, especially in post-attack scenarios. Traditional methods involve teams manually inspecting runways, a time-consuming and hazardous process. His research focuses on utilizing drone-based systems equipped with hyperspectral imaging and deep learning algorithms to identify damage and potential threats, such as unexploded munitions, with greater accuracy and speed.
“That experience was really eye-opening,” Pietersen says, referring to a training mission where he assessed damage at an airfield runway. “We’ve been told for almost a decade that a new, drone-based system is in the works, but it is still limited by an inability to identify unexploded ordnances; from the air, they look too much like rocks or debris. Rapid and remote airfield assessment is not the standard practice yet. We’re still only prepared to do this on foot, and that’s where my research comes in.”
Hyperspectral imaging, which captures electromagnetic radiation across a broad spectrum of wavelengths, is a key component of Pietersen’s research. As the technology becomes more affordable and durable, its potential applications extend beyond airfield assessments to areas like agriculture, emergency response, mining, and building inspections.
Pietersen’s journey began with a civil engineering degree from the Air Force Academy, where he first delved into computer programming and research. His projects on airfield pavement assessments and threat detection led him to explore hyperspectral imaging and machine learning, culminating in his master’s and PhD work at MIT.
“MIT was a clear choice for my research because the school has such a strong history of research partnerships and multidisciplinary thinking that helps you solve these unconventional problems,” Pietersen explains. “There’s no better place in the world than MIT for cutting-edge work like this.”
His research also extends to humanitarian applications. An internship with the HALO Trust, an organization dedicated to clearing landmines, demonstrated the potential for his work to expedite and improve the safety of removing explosives in war-torn regions. “We have post-conflict regions around the world where kids are trying to play and there are landmines and unexploded ordnances in their backyards,” Pietersen notes. “Ukraine is a good example of this in the news today. There are always remnants of war left behind. Right now, people have to go into these potentially dangerous areas and clear them, but new remote-sensing techniques could speed that process up and make it far safer.”
Pietersen’s upcoming assignment in Guam will allow him to apply his research to real-world scenarios, potentially transforming how airfield assessments are conducted in the Air Force. His vision is to replace manual inspections with remote assessments using spectral imaging and deep-learning solutions, ultimately making the process safer and more efficient.
