Advances in AI-Enabled Tactical Autonomy
From Sensing to Execution
AAAI 2026 Spring Symposium
Call for Papers
Organized by:
Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy (RITA), Howard University
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
Overview and Motivation
Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) are increasingly central to modern defense, security, and disaster response operations. To perform effectively in contested, dynamic, or communication-denied environments, these systems must achieve true tactical autonomy, the ability to sense, reason, decide, and act robustly under uncertainty. While artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy research has produced powerful algorithms in simulation and laboratory settings, a persistent gap remains between theoretical advances and their translation to field-deployable systems.
This symposium aims to bridge that gap by convening researchers and practitioners from AI, autonomy, sensing, and systems engineering to explore how to make autonomous UAS both theoretically principled and operationally effective.
The symposium seeks to foster dialogue between the AI and autonomy research communities and those engaged in operational field testing, defense research, and real-world deployment. By focusing on the integration of perception, reasoning, learning, and control across sensing and autonomy domains, this symposium will create a forum for identifying research bottlenecks, sharing best practices, and defining a roadmap toward resilient, explainable, and trustworthy UAS autonomy.
Goals and Objectives
The primary goal of this symposium is to create a sustained research conversation around the integration of AI and autonomy for UAS in tactical environments. Specific objectives include:
- Highlighting theoretical advances in AI, perception, planning, and control that are applicable to tactical autonomy
- Identifying real-world constraints such as computational, communication, and environmental factors that limit the transition of AI algorithms to practice
- Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between algorithm developers, system integrators, and end users
- Promoting open datasets, shared benchmarks, and testbeds for evaluation of autonomous UAS systems
- Defining ethical, explainability, and assurance frameworks for trustworthy tactical autonomy
Call for Papers
We invite submissions that explore the interface between AI, autonomy, and sensing in the context of UAS. Contributions that emphasize the transition from theory to practice, as well as cross-domain collaboration, are especially encouraged.
Submission Types
- Full papers (6–8 pages) in AAAI format describing theoretical advances, system implementations, field test results, or benchmark datasets
- Short papers (2-4 pages) presenting posters, position statements or research directions
- Demo proposals showcasing autonomous UAS capabilities
- Dataset descriptions and testbed descriptions
Submission Guidelines
Submissions should describe theoretical advances, system implementations, field test results, benchmark datasets, or position statements on research directions. All submissions will be accepted through EasyChair.
For questions, contact: atul.rawal@howard.edu
Important Dates
| Author Deadlines | |
|---|---|
| January 30, 2026 |
Paper/Abstract Submission Deadline • Submit abstracts or full papers via the AAAI EasyChair site. • Required for inclusion in the AAAI Proceedings. |
| February 13, 2026 |
Acceptance Notifications • Authors receive acceptance or rejection decisions. • Page limits for camera-ready papers provided. |
| February 27, 2026 |
Final Accepted Papers Due / Camera-Ready Deadline • Submit final revised accepted papers. • Camera-ready version due to AAAI for publication in the Proceedings. |
| Registration Deadlines | |
| December 10, 2025 |
Registration Opens • Online registration available on the AAAI website. |
| February 27, 2026 |
Refund Deadline & Late Registration Begins • Last day to request a registration refund. • Registration prices increase after this date. |
| March 30, 2026 |
Final Pre-Event Information Sent to All Registrants • AAAI emails logistics info to all registered attendees. |
| Event Date | |
| April 7–9, 2026 |
AAAI Spring Symposium Series • Burlingame, CA (Hyatt Regency SFO) |
Topics of Interest
Tactical autonomy for UAS demands an unprecedented integration of algorithmic intelligence, sensing, and control under severe real-world constraints. The symposium invites contributions that address both foundational and applied challenges at this intersection, spanning theoretical advances in AI planning, perception, and learning, as well as systems engineering considerations for reliable deployment in dynamic, adversarial, and resource-limited environments.
AI Planning and Decision-Making
- Decision-making for time-critical operations
- Reactive and deliberative planning
- Risk-aware decision-making
- Anytime algorithms and resource-constrained reasoning
- Contingency planning under uncertainty
Learning and Adaptation
- Adaptive learning under distribution shift
- Reinforcement learning for navigation and control
- Few-shot and meta-learning
- Uncertainty quantification
- Probabilistic reasoning
Sensor Fusion and Perception
- Multi-modal sensor fusion (vision, LiDAR, radar, RF)
- Sensor and actuator integration
- Resilient perception under adversarial conditions
- Real-time detection and tracking
- Semantic understanding for situational awareness
- Edge computing architectures
Explainable and Verifiable AI
- Explainable AI for safety-critical systems
- Formal verification and validation
- Runtime monitoring and assurance
- Interpretable models for operator trust
- Certification frameworks and testing
Artificial Reasoning for Trustworthy Autonomy
- Causal reasoning and causal inference for autonomy
- Causal discovery and structure learning
- Neuro-symbolic approaches combining learning and reasoning
- Knowledge representation for causal models
- Transfer learning through causal mechanisms
Human–Autonomy Teaming
- Human-AI collaborative control
- Intent recognition and natural language interfaces
- Workload management and situation awareness
- Interface design and human factors
- Training for supervisory control
Multi-Agent Coordination
- Distributed decision-making
- Task allocation and formation control
- Communication-constrained coordination
- Emergent behaviors and collective intelligence
- Heterogeneous team coordination
Simulation-to-Reality Transfer
- Bridging simulation-to-reality gaps
- Domain adaptation and transfer learning
- Synthetic data generation and digital twins
- Standardized benchmarks and evaluation
Robustness, Safety, and Resilience
- Safety assurance and fail-safe behaviors
- Adversarial robustness and cybersecurity
- Fault detection and recovery
- Operation in GPS-denied environments
- Graceful degradation and contingency management
Bridging Theory and Practice
A central theme of this symposium is the explicit focus on translating theoretical AI advances into fielded systems. We will structure discussions around:
- Theory to Practice Lightning Rounds: Researchers present theoretical work followed by practitioner commentary on deployment challenges
- Deployment Case Studies: Real-world implementations with analysis of what worked, what didn't, and why
- Challenge Problems: Community-defined grand challenges that require cross-disciplinary solutions
- Technology Transition Panel: Discussion of the "valley of death" between research prototypes and operational systems
Symposium Format and Structure
The symposium will be organized over two full days plus a half day (April 7-9, 2026) to encourage deep engagement between communities. Sessions will include invited keynotes, technical paper sessions, interactive panels, and hands-on demonstrations. Ample discussion time will be reserved for working groups to define open challenges and community goals.
Detailed Schedule
Tuesday, April 7
- 9:00am – 10:30am Opening Keynote & Invited Talk 1: TBD
- 10:30am – 11:00am Break
- 11:00am – 12:30pm Technical Paper Session 1
- 12:30pm – 2:00pm Lunch
- 2:00pm – 3:30pm Technical Paper Session 2
- 3:30pm – 4:00pm Break
- 4:00pm – 5:00pm Poster Session
- 5:30pm – 6:30pm Reception
Wednesday, April 8
- 9:00am – 10:30am Invited Talk 2: TBD
- 10:30am – 11:00am Break
- 11:00am – 12:30pm Technical Paper Session 3
- 12:30pm – 2:00pm Lunch
- 2:00pm – 3:30pm Technical Paper Session 4
- 3:30pm – 4:00pm Break
- 4:00pm – 5:00pm Panel Discussion: Bridging Lab to Field - Technology Transition
- 5:30pm – 6:30pm Plenary Session: TBD
Thursday, April 9
- 9:00am – 10:30am Technical Paper Session 5
- 10:30am – 11:00am Break
- 11:00am – 12:30pm Lightning Talks, Emerging Ideas, and Closing Remarks
Session Types:
- Invited Keynote Talks: Two distinguished speakers presenting state-of-the-art in AI foundations and sensing systems
- Technical Paper Sessions: Five peer-reviewed research sessions covering theory, systems, and integration
- Panel Discussion: Interactive discussion on bridging research to operational deployment
- Poster Session: In-depth technical exchange on theory and algorithms
- Lightning Talks: Brief presentations of emerging ideas and work-in-progress
- Plenary Session: Community roadmap discussion and future directions
Target Audience and Expected Impact
The symposium is designed to engage a diverse audience of AI researchers, autonomy engineers, sensor specialists, systems architects, and defense practitioners. It will serve as a convergence point for academic, industry, and government communities seeking to translate AI and autonomy research into deployable solutions for UAS.
Expected Impacts:
• Fostering cross-domain partnerships
• Identifying testable research hypotheses
• Seeding joint projects that connect fundamental research to fieldable prototypes
• Creating a sustained research community around tactical autonomy
Organizing Committee
Lead Organizer
Dr. Atul Rawal
Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy
Howard University
Co-Organizer
Dr. Adrienne Raglin
DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory
Co-Organizer
Dr. Simon Khan
Air Force Research Laboratory
Sponsoring Organizations:
- Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy (RITA), Howard University
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
- U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
Contact Information
For inquiries about the symposium, submission guidelines, or participation opportunities, please contact:
Dr. Atul Rawal
Research Institute for Tactical Autonomy (RITA)
Howard University
Email: atul.rawal@howard.edu
Website: https://rita.howard.edu/
© Research Institute For Tactical Autonomy 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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