SBIR/STTR Research Award

Global Nano Aerial Terrestrial Sensing (GNATS) HoloWarrior (tm) “GNATS” II

Award identifier 8f8bb8a63fe1ce079021bad9ce40cdaa7651d411d0778869732851b9f80c4c2cAwarding agency Department of Defense · Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Award amount

$1,249,304

Program and phase

SBIR · Phase II

Award year

2024

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Award details

Awarding agency
Department of Defense
Branch
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Recipient company
VR REHAB INC
Proposal award date
2023-10-24
Contract end date
2025-10-26
UEI
PW6TQ7M8WH66
Solicitation number
21.2
Topic code
DTRA212-003

Research abstract

HellHive™ Add-On Modules enables disruptive large-scale advantages to existing drones evolved for CBRN threat detections for DTRA requirements in specific, and drone-based DoD missions in general.   HellHive advances include inexpensive modular add-on solutions enabling existing COTS drones to become MotherShips to Swarms of smaller drones exploiting DTRA GNATS’ marsupial innovations.  VRR’s multiple successful Phase-I demonstrations at government facilities validated proof-of-concept, feasibility, towards transitions with VRR’s 2nd parallel CBD/DTRA project & joint transitions with MARCORSYSCOM. The VRR/Lockheed Martin/Rhoman Aerospace team’s successful simulation and actual field-testing efforts have already highlighted the near-term, high-payoff, low-risk effectiveness, and efficiencies of VRR’s HellHive Tech. Two different marsupial scaled solutions have been already successfully demonstrated by the VRR team: -- (1) VRR’s COTS Micro Class Bee M-3 as MotherShips to five Nano Aerial Vehicles (NAVS (COTS CrazyFlies)) launched and recovered utilizing M9 paper for detection (a Phase-II requirement completed early); (2) Rhoman Aerospace mid-level lifter as MotherShip for eight VRR’s Bee M-3s as the Swarm members recovering via VRR’s Bat Mode modules. Bees M-3s’ 2.2lb payload supports use of existing COTS CBRN detectors; Thus greatly expands the types and classes of CBRN threat detections for DTRA in specific, and DoD sensors in general.  Full disclosure: -- As a win/win for DTRA, VRR has a separately funded DTRA contract for 3D Augmented Reality (AR) CBRN threat visualizations inclusive of reading & controlling existing COTS CBRN detectors for use within manned moving vehicles.  VRR’s HoloWarrior:CBRN already supports remote control of drones & Swarms providing fusion with GNATS.  Further, VRR’s MARCORSYSCOM project for AR visualizations of mines, obstacles and safe lanes, when also combined with VRR’s two DTRA projects fulfills VRR’s visions for: ‘Making Invisible Threats Visible’. Phase-II is envisioned as exploiting and evolving our GNATS HellHive Tech successes with additional algorithmic and artificial intelligence components to increase ease of use, reduce cognitive workload, and ultimately towards full autonomy; collaborating with DTRA and other DoD entities towards early adopter transitions, and large-scale disruptive evolution of many different existing COTS CBRN detector manufacturers to include drone based solutions (towards increased capabilities and dramatic cost reductions competition versus current expensive proprietary drone chem detection solution). Additionally, VRR’s disruptive discoveries and proof of concept demonstrations with our Bat Mode module for recoveries to Motherships also enables a completely new classes of persistent ISR on a single charge! Plus, automated new ‘AI-Self-Parking/TakeOff modes enabling automated recharging from MotherShips, VRR’s new ‘Power Towers’ and/or ultimately induction recharging from power lines.

Technology keywords

Not reported

Other awards by this recipient

Verified by the same UEI. These are other public SBIR/STTR award pages, not a merged company record.

Awards with the same topic code

Verified by an exact topic code match. This is not a text-similarity match.

Research funding history

20 SBIR/STTR records share this UEI (2016–2024). Reported award amounts total $9,592,233. Reported amounts are not federal obligations.

Phases: Phase I, Phase II, Phase II – Direct to Phase II

Agencies: Department of Defense

Agency intelligence

Department of Defense

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