Research needs for AI in manufacturing

The Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories' Material Laboratory is charged with developing a research program for applications of artificial intelligence (AI) as it relates to manufacturing. As a part of program development, advisory input was sought from experts from industry, academia, and government. A structured methodology was employed which featured a top-down approach leading from concept level articulation, through application area goals and objectives, to project level detail. This paper documents the effort in terms of providing methodological background, application area goals and objectives, and results obtained from project generation and assessment. Emphasis is on project level results.