Unlocking DoD as a client for small innovative tech companies
Before the xTechSearch competition, the thought of working with the US Army or the federal government was out of the question for many small, innovative tech companies: too many confusing departments, contact points and regulations, too long a timeline, too long to payout the time and money investments. Without in-house expertise in the ways of the US military, many small entrepreneurial companies such as PNI Sensor had to cross the Army and the Department of Defense off as a potential client.
What is the xTechSearch?
The xTechSearch competition connects the Army with small tech firms, breaking down traditional barriers to working with the Army. It offers small companies a unique collaboration opportunity to receive follow-on contracts and direct exposure to Army experts and commercial stakeholders – supplying participants with key networking, education and mentorship opportunities. And there are financial grants along the way as well, to help defray a portion of the development costs that contestants might encounter.
This small business competition is fierce!
Almost 800 small companies signed up to compete in xTech7, then they were winnowed down to 50 semifinalists and then to 20 finalists. After an intense final presentation in front of thirty judges, PNI Sensor was selected as a winner.
PNI Sensor’s approach to assured positioning, navigation and timing (A-PNT) is novel.
Currently, ubiquitous GPS can track warfighters and devices’ location and path with high accuracy. But GPS is still an RF technology, which makes it inherently fragile with vulnerabilities that are exploitable in conflict (as experience in the Ukraine war shows). GPS alone is fragile and vulnerable and needs to be augmented/replaced in order to provide resilient location and tracking.
The PNI A-FORT (Assured Field Ops Remote Tracker) is an IMU device that will provide accurate location and movement data when GPS is jammed, spoofed or denied.
No RF signals, maps, or user input is ever required for it to output latitude and longitude to the operator, whether mounted or dismounted. It can track soldiers, drones, vehicles, aircraft and submersibles. As a low SWaP-C inertial sensor-based module with AI and ML algorithms, it’s tiny, lightweight (35 grams) and runs on a minuscule amount of power. It cannot be jammed or spoofed and can accurately locate and track a soldier, a drone, or underwater and ground vehicles anywhere in the world when GPS is unavailable.
The xTechSearch competition allowed PNI to showcase their technology to the right audiences.
The guidance from the xTech Accelerator and FedTech teams was easy to follow, and they explained clearly what the Army was looking for. The criteria for selection was open for all to see, assigning mentors to guide and review the various pitches, explaining how important it was that each contestant address a significant Army need, and which of the myriad of committees, departments, divisions and directors would be most likely to need this kind of device. All along the way, there were regular informational on-line presentations from the Accelerator team covering the various stakeholders and their interests and expertise, and time to ask questions about the more arcane and enigmatic language of the military.
As a winner, PNI has now begun to partner with key mentors and is readying products and technologies for the tests and trials ahead. And as it customizes its products and technologies to integrate with the devices the Army and other DoD departments need, PNI is ready to undertake the next steps in research and development, while it continues to collaborate with companies in civilian areas as well.
None of this would have been possible without the active support offered through the xTechSearch competition. PNI Sensor is very encouraged to see the Army reaching out to include all kinds of tiny, innovative companies in their search for cutting-edge technologies that will maintain our military strength and leadership in the world.