- Dell’s John Garrett says autonomous systems are transforming military and national security operations
- AI enables machine-speed decision-making for autonomous defense platforms
- Dell advances edge computing and 5G connectivity to support command-and-control missions
John Garrett, vice president of the Department of War at Dell Technologies, said government and industry leaders should continue advancing autonomous systems and strengthening collaboration across the defense ecosystem to address evolving national security challenges.
In an article published on Carahsoft.com, Garrett wrote that autonomous systems are already transforming operations across the military and broader national security environment.
He noted that autonomous vehicles and systems will play a growing role in future operations while human personnel continue leading missions.
How Are Autonomous Systems Changing Defense Operations?
According to Garrett, defense leaders are taking steps to expand autonomous capabilities through investments in advanced technologies, organizational realignments and innovation-focused programs.
“Across all branches, leaders are taking important steps to enhance autonomous capabilities and strengthen collaboration within the defense ecosystem,” he said.
Garrett added that prime contractors will continue supporting defense missions while emerging innovators develop smaller, lower-cost systems that teams can replace quickly during operations.
What Communication Challenges Do Autonomous Systems Present?
Garrett said autonomous systems will require coordinated communications among sensors, satellites, autonomous platforms, crewed aircraft and ground stations. He noted that military branches may also need to coordinate operations with external agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Making all those systems talk to one another and work together for operational success is a massive challenge,” Garrett wrote.
According to Garrett, communication capabilities will remain essential to command-and-control operations as agencies manage increasingly complex environments.
How Is AI Supporting Machine-Speed Decisions?
Garrett said autonomous systems rely on AI to identify targets, navigate and process sensor data.
He added that leaders will need to determine how much human involvement should remain in operational processes as machine-to-machine interactions accelerate.
“The key is to keep up with the speed of machine-to-machine interactions. If a massive system disruption occurs, waiting for a human to respond could take too long,” he added.
How Does Dell Support Autonomous Operations Through Edge Computing?
Garrett said Dell Technologies continues to develop onboard AI technologies for use on ships, satellites and ground stations, as well as deployable edge kits with lower power and cooling requirements designed to operate in rugged environments.
According to Garrett, Dell also focuses on connecting edge technologies with data centers through 5G offerings to support command-and-control activities.
“As we develop these edge products, we also focus on how they connect back to data centers through 5G solutions from Dell,” Garrett wrote.
