Applied Intuition Delivers AI Data Engine to US Navy

Applied Intuition, global industry experts in physical AI and autonomous systems infrastructure, has announced the delivery of the U.S. Navy’s first large-scale data engine through the Data Edge Collection Kit (DECK) program. The initiative provides the infrastructure required to rapidly field autonomous systems and support the transition toward software-defined naval operations.

DECK operates within the U.S. Navy’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Robotic and Autonomous Systems (PAE RAS). It enables edge-based data collection to accelerate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities across the Department of War (DOW).

Sensor and mission data remain central to the development of production-grade AI systems. Historically, the DOW has underinvested in the infrastructure needed to collect data from operational environments. This has limited the ability to mature AI systems at the pace required for modern, software-defined warfare, where adaptability across weapons, sensors, and platforms is critical.

As a result, many existing autonomous and semi-autonomous naval systems rely on manual processes for target identification, threat assessment, and engagement coordination. These limitations can slow decision-making and reduce the effectiveness of mission-critical operations in contested maritime environments.

DECK is designed to address these challenges by deploying AI capabilities directly at the edge. The system enables the collection of large volumes of operational data while supporting rapid software updates that improve system performance and reduce operator workload. As the Navy advances its PAE RAS framework, DECK serves as a foundational capability for scaling autonomy across its fleet.

“The future warship is software-defined, and DECK is a cornerstone of that vision for the U.S. Navy,” Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition, said. “DECK turns ships into data-generating, continuously improving platforms and gives the DOW a real data engine at sea, not another one-off system. That’s how you deliver AI to the fleet at operational speed.”

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan at AFCEA West said DECK is central to transforming ships into adaptive, AI-enabled systems.  “If you do not build a data engine, you do not build an AI-enabled force,” Phelan said Feb. 12 during his keynote address. “That is why the Navy is deploying DECK…it turns ships into learning systems, not static platforms, enabling an iterative and adaptable feedback loop with legacy bespoke architectures that historically have evolved only through programmatic redesign. This is how we move from demonstrations to dominance. Even with unmanned systems and AI, there is a hard truth: the government cannot deliver the Golden Fleet alone, fast enough, or at scale. That is why private sector partnership is not optional—it is foundational and it must be accelerated.”

DECK forms part of Applied Intuition’s broader Data Engine solution, developed over several years in collaboration with both defense and commercial customers. It represents an early step toward enabling a software-defined fleet and a more integrated Warfighting Data Ecosystem.

The system supports real-time automated detection, classification, and data recording using onboard sensors. It provides operators with integrated displays and visual overlays while managing constrained satellite bandwidth. Offboard data curation and machine learning retraining allow AI models and interface software to be updated over the air, improving performance with minimal intervention from personnel.  Its modular architecture enables deployment as a compact system or as part of a larger, end-to-end capability. This flexibility supports rapid fielding and scalability across different naval platforms and operational requirements.

About Applied Intuition

Applied Intuition, Inc. is focused on advancing physical AI through software infrastructure and autonomy solutions. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, the company develops tools, operating systems, and data platforms that support intelligent systems across automotive, defense, trucking, construction, mining, and agriculture sectors. Its technologies are used by 18 of the world’s top 20 automakers, as well as the United States military and allied organizations, to enable scalable deployment of autonomous and AI-enabled systems. To learn more, please click here.

Source/Photo Credit: Applied Intuition

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