The application of edge artificial intelligence in the Internet of Battlefield Things

This paper systematically discusses the indispensable role and technical pathways of edge artificial intelligence (AI) in the Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT). Considering the high real-time, dynamic, and security demands of the battlefield environment, a hierarchical collaborative architecture design based on “terminal layer - intelligent edge layer - cloud layer” is proposed, and its practical value is analyzed in scenarios such as real-time situational awareness, autonomous weapon control, and soldier health monitoring. By addressing core challenges like heterogeneous device management, low-latency response, and robustness assurance, solutions for dynamic resource allocation, lightweight model deployment, and intelligent spectrum management are provided. Lastly, the security threats and defense strategies of edge intelligence are analyzed, building an integrated military-grade security architecture of “detection-response-recovery”. This paper provides theoretical support and technical reference for the practical deployment of edge AI empowering the IoBT.