As part of the "Logistics 4.0" collaboration between Leonardo and AM, a Hackathon named “AIRtificial Intelligence” has been held in Florence on December 11th and 12th. The marathon focused on developing innovative solutions for Customer Support and Training leveraging on Artificial Intelligence technologies.

9 teams consisting of start-ups, developers and researchers – supported by Leonardo and Italian Air Force tutors – competed by developing disruptive applications on three Use Cases: the “Virtual Assistant” to support the maintainer during his/her interventions with a natural language interaction; the “Virtual Ear” to perform non-destructive tests on the integrity of composite materials by analysing sound waves ("Tapping Test"); the "Virtual Eye" to allow the maintainer to facilitate the identification and classification of the damages or anomalies on the aircraft surfaces via images real time analysis.

A prestigious jury composed - among others - by the Italian Air Force Logistic Commander, Gen. Fantuzzi, by Leonardo CTIO, Prof. Cingolani, and by the IIT Scientific Director, Prof. Metta, announced the Tornado team, who proposed an innovative solution for the "Tapping Test", as the winner of the contest. 

The award ceremony was attended by the Undersecretary of Defence, the President of the Italian Chamber Defence Committee and the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, who remarked that "AIRificial Intelligence" is a demonstration of innovation in both the application of disruptive technologies and the collaboration model between the Italian Air Force and Leonardo, in a context of Strategic Partnership and "Open Innovation".