GE, MIT, DARPA Build Open Industrial Software Platform
GE, MIT and DARPA are developing “vehicleforge.mil," a crowdsourcing platform that will allow experts to collaborate on the design and rapid manufacture of complex systems such as military vehicles, aviation systems and advanced medical devices. The effort is meant to reduce the development time of such “cyber-physical systems,” which today can take decades to create. Great concept -- But will it work? Tell us by making a comment below. GE and MIT are building a demonstration platform to support DARPA’s ongoing Adaptive Vehicle Make (AVM) portfolio. DARPA wants to attract "breakthrough ideas and concepts that could revolutionize the design and manufacture of military vehicles and other complex defense systems. " GE says the platform, scheduled to launch late this year, is a key part of its efforts to build an "Industrial Internet" that connects data, design tools and simulations in a collaborative environment. Recently, GE began expanding its software programs to leverage big data into industrial product development methodologies. As part of the expansion, the company opened a global software headquarters in San Ramon, Calif., that will employ 400 software professionals.