TLDR: The University of West Florida (UWF) has been awarded a $100,000 research grant from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Munitions Directorate. This one-year grant will fund advanced research in multi-agent artificial intelligence, focusing on developing autonomous systems that can collaboratively execute complex, multi-step missions with minimal human intervention. The project will also support two Ph.D. students in UWF’s Intelligent Systems and Robotics doctoral program.
The University of West Florida (UWF) has successfully secured a $100,000 research grant from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL/RW) Munitions Directorate. This significant one-year award, announced on September 2, 2025, is dedicated to advancing multi-agent artificial intelligence (AI) and providing invaluable training for doctoral students in the field.
The grant was awarded through AFRL/RW’s University Day program and is spearheaded by Dr. Kristen “Brent” Venable, a distinguished professor and director of UWF’s Intelligent Systems and Robotics doctoral program.
The core objective of this project is to design and test sophisticated computer environments where multiple autonomous agents—such as robots, drones, or various software systems—can learn to collaborate effectively. The research aims to enable these agents to work together on multi-step missions, significantly reducing the need for constant human oversight. In essence, the team will be building simulations that train these autonomous systems in task division, information sharing, and adaptive responses to changing conditions.
Dr. Venable expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating in a press release, “We are excited for this opportunity to collaborate with AFRL/RW and are confident that it will serve as the first step toward a long-term, fruitful research partnership, positioning UWF as a research partner of choice.”
The research specifically targets ‘decentralized strategies for multi-phase operational scenarios.’ These scenarios encompass sequential missions that could range from mapping an area to coordinating actions once a target has been identified. The potential real-world applications of this research are vast, including critical areas like disaster response, search and rescue operations, and reconnaissance missions.
Two doctoral students from the Intelligent Systems and Robotics program, Raffaele Galliera and Alessandro Amato, will be integral to the project. They will contribute to designing mission environments and specifications, and apply advanced machine learning techniques to train these cooperative agents.
Dr. Mohamed Khabou, dean of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering and professor, lauded the initiative, remarking, “UWF is proud of our collaboration with AFRL/RW and of the contributions of our students and faculty to the cutting-edge research conducted there.”
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The Intelligent Systems and Robotics doctoral program at UWF maintains strong ties with the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). This partnership provides students with access to nationally recognized researchers in robotics, human-machine interaction, and artificial intelligence, alongside UWF’s academic resources. IHMC faculty actively co-teach courses, mentor doctoral candidates, and offer research facilities.
