Post on 15-Apr-2017
SkynetSam Gussman (creative generalist), Alvin Goh (hacker), Olga Musayev (project
development), Kevin Mott (project manager)
Mentors/Liaisons: Steve Behmer, Ryan Blake, Mike Hard, Jooyong Lee, Wayne Chen, Brian CS
# Interviewed this week: 104 Users, 3 Buyers, 3 Experts
# interviewed total: 43
Developing autonomous drones for situational awareness. Helping prevent battlefield fatalities by
pinpointing friendly and enemy positions.
Customer DiscoveryHypotheses Results Actions
Image Recognition is a “must have”
Stakeholder and User interviews
Validated. Both stakeholders (PM) and tactical users are very interested in image recognition software. No current system in the space.
Continue to confirm this is a request from Operators and survey the commercial/military space to see what is available.
No other tools are used by SOCOM for automatic classification
Operator and Stakeholder interviews.
Use of image recognition is only used by intelligence personnel and not in real time.
Work with current image recognition software companies (Neurala) to find efficiencies and determine if there is tech out there that helps solve the problem
SOCOM Acquisitions are driven by users
SOCOM acquisitions document reviewStakeholder interviews
Users determine capability gaps and communicate those gaps to the PMs. PMs try to fill the gaps with tech. Users make first draft of requirements.
Continue to engage users and communicate the responses to the small UAS PM at SOCOM and sponsor to confirm we are filling the gap and stakeholders are aware.
Experiments
MVP
ATAK screen 1: Satellite imagery ATAK screen 2: Drone feed
ATAK screen 1: Satellite imagery ATAK screen 2: Drone feed
MVP
Mission Model Canvas- Identifying and tracking friendlies- Object detection- Object recognition, classification and threat detection
- Integration with ATAK
- SOF (green beret, ranger, SEALS)
- SOCOM
- Programmable drone manufacturers (eg: Solo)
- ATAK Program
- Neurala (or other computer vision firm)
Tactical operators - SOF (SF, Ranger, SEALS, MARSOC/Recon, drone operators)
Private sector partners (Neurala, drone manufacturer)
ATAK Program Manager
SOCOM Small UAV S&T/Acquisition Program Managers
- Keep track of friendly, potential hostile and neutral actors/equipment automatically- New contracts and revenue stream- Opportunities for tech development -Added value to current program/technology-Cost effective, agile and quick method of filling capability gaps
-Improved situational awareness for small units in combat
-reduce workload for tactical operators and feed-monitoring operators
-decrease strain on other traditional aerial assets
-Deploy to select teams under $25k level. Hardware purchased COTS-Incorporate commercial partner software in app dev-Work with ATAK to include future app update with our capabilities-Work to make program of record after buy in
Fixed:- Equipment - drones, development toolkits- Software design & engineering
Variable:- Costs of maintenance, updates, and training
-Demonstrate utility- gain support from senior personnel-Show opportunities for new revenue streams-Add utility to current program of record to increase adoption-Provide low cost product with new capability filling gapSaboteur - competition within SOCOM PMs
Beneficiaries
Mission AchievementMission Budget/Costs
Buy-In/Support
Deployment
Value PropositionKey Activities
Key Resources
Key Partners
- DJI phantom 3 programmable drone
- Computer vision SDK (preferably neurala)
- ATAK API + source code
Saboteurs + Other DangersProject Manager for Personal Reconnaissance Devices
There is a jurisdictional fight between the PMs for Personal Reconnaissance Devices and Small UAV Projects
Raven ProgramSmall fixed wing reconnaissance drones, the Raven chief amongst them, stand to lose both funding a prestige
Ourselves Any misclassification of a civilian that leads to injury is likely to completely derail the project.
‘Personal’ saboteursThis week we learned about an angry secretary who almost killed a project’s funding.
SkyNet: Value Proposition Canvas
- Knowing the locations of friends/enemies/civilians- Reduced ambiguity - autonomous assessment of aerial perspectives and video feed Custome
r JobsShoot bad
guys without getting shot- Cognitive overload from
existing tools-Manpower losses - Hassle of systems not communicating
SOF Elements (combat)
Gains
Pains
Gain Creators
Pain Relievers
-Increased situational awareness on the battlefield- Reconnaissance of inaccessible places
- Integrate with current systems that soldiers are familiar with- Frees up another soldier
Products& ServicesSituationally
awaredrone with visual
interface
SkyNet: Value Proposition Canvas
- Automatic patrol- Facial Recognition of people identified in vicinity- Automatic threat detection to flag security threats Custome
r JobsForce protectionDay-to-day security patrols
are manpower intensive
Difficult to be always aware of surroundings
SOF Elements (non-combat)
Gains
Pains
Gain Creators
Pain Relievers
- Reliable 24/7 Security Awareness- Knowing who lives around you, and who doesn’t- Ability to respond quickly to threats
- Swarms of drones can replace patrol units
-24/7 situation awareness of surroundings
Products& ServicesSituationally
awareautonomous
drones
SkyNet: Value Proposition Canvas
- Access into SOCOM acquisitions
- building company’s presence in military
Customer Jobs
Make more moneyBuild customer relationships
- Difficult to get large contracts, technology still maturing, only have limited consumer market share
Commercial Partners
Gains
Pains
Gain Creators
Pain Relievers
-New revenue stream-Potential long term partnership
- Contracts with military, willing and eager to adopt new technology (early adopters) even if tech is not fully matured
Products& ServicesPartnership /
contract
SkyNet: Value Proposition Canvas
- Integrating drone camera feed enhanced with image recognition
- augmenting ATAK interface with image processing
Customer Jobs
Manage ATAKSystem under
cost- Proprietary technologythat does not talk to othertech- low adoption rate, ‘fancy new toy’ that’s not used much
ATAK Project Manager
Gains
Pains
Gain Creators
Pain Relievers
-Increased value to ATAK program
- Easy integration with ATAK- Promote culture of open-source- improving receptiveness to ATAK
Products& ServicesAutonomous
drone with live video feed
integrated with ATAK
SkyNet: Value Proposition Canvas
-Image recognition software first of its kind in the military
- tool could potentially be applied across platforms (as a software plugin)
Customer Jobs
Manage ProgramsFill gaps- Tech is new and recognition
of potential enemy may triggerblowback- new technology always too expensive, sometimes they don’t get used after purchasing
SOCOM Small UAS PM
Gains
Pains
Gain Creators
Pain Relievers
- Provides new tool that existing programs don’t provide - Potential to scale
-Retain man-in-the-loop, test software during training stateside and slowly scale to overseas.- Maintain low costs by utilizing COTS, consistently engage user feedback at all stages of development.
Products& Services
COTS Drone with visual recognition
software
Backup Slides: Acquisition Process
Value Proposition BriefProblem Existing solutions Our solution
Identify and locate hostile and neutral actors/equipment
Plot on a mapDrop enemy icons on JCR/BFTSoldier awareness
Real-time updates/tracking of persons of interest through computer vision
Special Forces monitoring of allied force
High level drone feed fed to SF, but limited 2-way communication.ATAK may show locations of allied force
Drone extends communication networks and allow audio and video communicationMonitors locations of allied force to prevent airstrike casualties
Collateral Damage Soldiers mark out potential CD on mapsGround force commander's’ judgementDrone operator in the US runs algorithm to determine CD from potential airstrike
Drone uses existing database to mark civilian buildings on ATAK map; Drone identifies potential civilians and marks location in ATAK using Computer Vision
Fratricide, especially when calling in airstrikes and artillery
ATAK, GPS in radios, 9-line call format, strobe lights on uniforms: all identify friendly locations
Low-flying drone detects friendly locations and conveys to JTAC and pilot. Could also run algorithms determining risk of fratricide; AR shows soldiers locations of friendlies
Force protection duties (guard) are manpower intensive
Patrols and Soldiers at static positions are a staple in force protection duties
Autonomous drone would circle compound and recognize dangers. Can form fleet of autonomous drones to complement patrol duties
Tactical Beneficiary Archetype
Special Forces - they enter an area for few months and live with locals for a while, train them, advise them on combat.
Drone Operators - they pilot and monitor drone feeds to conduct targeted air strikes and protect troops on mission
Rangers - they enter a specific area, conduct a raid, and exit.
JTAC - responsible for calling and targeting air support.
Sergeant of the Guard (SOG) - they are responsible for force protection.
SkyNet: Value Proposition Canvas
Products& Services
-Drones deploy immediately, reducing strain on limited emergency resources (like helicopters)-Drones provides immediate aid (food/water) to trapped individuals Custome
r JobsSearch and rescue operations- Not able to access areas
after disasters- Difficulty operating in tight spaces - Hazard to human rescuers
Disaster SAR
Gains
Pains
Gain Creators
Pain Relievers
-Fast response to disasters- Fast identification of trappedand at-risk persons-Efficient delivery of aid
- Increased agility- Drones fly quickly through zones humans can’t go- using drones in unsafe zones prevents risking lives of rescuers
Economical, low-costsearch drone fleet