ADAPT - Advanced, Agile Manufacturing of Limited-Production Swarming Unmanned Systems (UxS) to Support Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA

In Phase II, ESAero will demonstrate the FAST design’s capability of rapid manufacturing and deployment. During the Base period, ESAero will leverage the supply chain analysis created during Phase I to quickly procure components from the identified vendors and fabricated 100 vehicles. The vehicles will be fabricated in-house at ESAero’s AS9100 facility using lean manufacturing work cells with visual work instructions. The work instructions, or build guides, establish a simple repeatable process that ensures quality is built into the product. The 100 vehicles will be delivered within 6 weeks ARO and cost $1,750/unit. Upon delivery of the vehicles, ESAero will successfully demonstrate the simple and quick operation of deploying multiple vehicles in the field and launch waves of vehicles, completing 2km with the designated payload. The operation is managed by the Control Tablet which uses a separate Bridge to communicate with and task the drones. The operator uses the Control Tablet to initiate the simultaneous launch of all drones in the Launch Area. Drones with crossing flightpaths will execute collision avoidance behaviors using direct inter-drone communication. After completion of the flight testing, ESAero will identify and implement any necessary design modifications. A final report detailing the work completed under the Phase II Base, including lessons learned and design modifications, will be submitted to the ONR Project Manager. During the Phase II Option, 320 vehicles will be fabricated similar to the Base Period incorporating any identified design changes. The 320 vehicles will be delivered 8 weeks ARO and will cost $1,750/unit. ESAero will develop an operating manual and training procedures to allow for outside personnel to unpack, launch, and operate the multi-vehicle swarm. The 320 vehicles will be delivered to the identified Department of Navy (DON) test range; ESAero will conduct a single day 2-part training, with both classroom simulated learning and field training to illustrate the simplicity of the system operation. The classroom training will also include control tablets loaded with software in the loop simulations to run through various training scenarios. The live vehicle training will include step by step guidance of operating each vehicle assembly station, as well as, tasking and launching the vehicles themselves. Once trained, ESAero will organize and conduct a flight test with DON personnel, demonstrating the rapid ability to conduct the 2km mission with 320 vehicles. After completion of the flight testing, ESAero will identify and implement any necessary design modifications. A final report detailing the work completed under the Phase II Option, including lessons learned and design modifications, will be submitted to the ONR Project Manager.