We are pleased to release the selections from our first Announcement of Opportunity, with three companies whose innovative focus was clearly evident! The overall quality of the responses was excellent, so selection for sponsorship was tough. Our goal is to maximize results and we believe these three companies will be able to do that.
Congratulations to 8th Continent Technologies, Universal Solutions International, Inc. and Sentinel Robotic Solutions for being selected.
8thContinent Technologies
When large satellites fail in space, it can cost owners Billions. What's worse is that half of the time, the failure has no known cause. Eighth Continent Technologies, Inc. (8CT) is developing an in-space inspection service to provide early fault detection that can extend satellite lifetimes and save customers tens of millions of dollars per year. 8CT's inspection services and data solutions, which are planned to be fully operational by 2022, will cause a paradigm shift in the understanding of high-value asset health in space.
Project Description: Collaboration with VISA will enable the development of early vital software for our mission to help SpaceCraft Observe and Understand Things (SCOUT). The SCOUT-Vision project will focus on developing the underlying operations needed for our spacecraft to understand what they see when they conduct inspections. Working with VISA gives us access to amazing faculty and collaborators who can help 8CT tackle the challenges and risks of on-site autonomous satellite inspections.
Universal Solutions International, Inc.
USI is recognized for its proven and demonstrated expertise as a UAS technology development services provider. USI currently supports customers across DoD such as ARMY, DARPA, DLA, DTRA, and DHS in R&D portfolio management, manufacturing technology expertise, and maturing new enabling technologies for current & future UAS platforms. Expertise includes Multi-Service, Other Agency, Manufacturing Institute coordination, and planning, as well as international market development.
Project Description: This project, as a DoD first, intends to Advance, through technology development and demonstration, the unique launching, while in-flight, of autonomous small UASs from manned aerial platforms. It intends to demonstrate the launch of an ALTIUS (air-launched, tube-integrated, unmanned system) based small UAS from a military helicopter, at tactical altitudes, to support an autonomous highly maneuverable flight with recovery to a landing site.
Sentinel Robotic Solutions (SRS)
In recent years, the CEO of SRS, Peter Bale, was the President of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). He is now acting as an advisor to the organization and is a board member. AUVSI is the world's largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems and robotics community. Mr. Bale has been Chairman of the Board for the Wallops Island Regional Alliance since April of 2011. He was also the Director of the Virginia Space Flight Academy from September of 2013 through August of 2018. He is credited in bringing two major UAS programs from conception to a full-scale DoD program of record, validating his ability to succeed in product development and sales. SRS has a staff of eight professionals who work to fulfill the company’s contracts in unmanned aviation.
Founded in 2012, SRS was established as an unmanned system consulting partnership. The company has experience working with military operations, military leadership, and America’s largest unmanned systems manufacturing companies. SRS has since expanded the company’s organic capabilities to include services, support, system integration, and custom automated production solutions. SRS specializes in all aspects of operational support including mission planning, air vehicle piloting, data collection and delivery, project management, and administrative support. SRS also offers test management services to include test and evaluation (T&E), research and development (R&D), development testing, operational testing, requirements studies, and data analysis. The company has extensive experience supporting government agencies including the US Navy, US Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, NASA, NOAA, DHS and more. SRS also has multiple FAA Part 107 Commercial Operators on staff and has developed curricula for training courses in support of the evolvement of the workforce for the growing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry. SRS also provides various services for the management, operations, administration, business development and external relations in support of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) flight operations for the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (VCSFA).
Project Description: Sentinel Robotic Solution, LLC (SRS) is pleased to submit this proposal to the Virginia Institute for Spaceflight and Autonomy (VISA) through Old Dominion University Research Foundation (ODURF). This project will not only serve to ignite economic growth, workforce development and innovation on the Eastern Shore, but also provide a state-of-the-art communication network to support, improve, and expand DoD Navy missions, NASA launch operations, and scientific research. SRS will bring a collaborative team of Federal, Educational, and commercial stakeholders together to plan and execute a full-scale demonstration of an over-the-horizon communication mesh network that can pass real-time voice, video streaming, and data transfer from shore stations to sea-based platforms via air vehicles. As this network is proven to be viable, more nodes will be added to expand it over the Atlantic Ocean Range as well as provide shore-based operational control and awareness. This capability has been specifically requested so users of the Range can monitor, view and collect data from test events and launches in real-time supporting larger, longer, and more range missions over the Atlantic.