A new AI-enabled manufacturing initiative by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Autonomous Resource Corporation (ARC) aims to shorten the time needed to build and certify defense components.
The partnership centers on the Exascale Foundry, a distributed network of AI-driven production nodes connected through ARC’s secure ARCNet infrastructure.
The initiative combines ORNL’s computing and advanced manufacturing research with ARC’s distributed production platform to automate quality assurance and streamline production workflows.
“…we can compress manufacturing and qualification timelines from years to months and deliver manufactured parts at the volumes the warfighter needs,” said Bryan Wisk, chief executive officer of ARC.
As part of the effort, ARC will deploy seven manufacturing nodes linked to ORNL through ARCNet, while ORNL will provide access to technologies developed at its Manufacturing Demonstration Facility.
ORNL’s Peregrine artificial intelligence software will also be integrated into the network to enable real-time adaptive control and production oversight.
Producing at Scale From Lab Innovation
According to ORNL Associate Laboratory Director for National Security Sciences Moe Khaleel, the collaboration is designed to accelerate the transition of laboratory-developed technologies into production-scale defense manufacturing.
It also reportedly supports the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission, a national initiative focused on advancing scientific computing, energy innovation, and national security capabilities.
Initial work will focus on producing high-temperature nickel superalloy turbine components for autonomous air vehicle engines using metal binder jetting technology.
“This partnership exemplifies the type of relationship necessary to build and grow domestic supply chains for our national security,” said ORNL Chief Manufacturing Officer Craig Blue.
