PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (October 22, 2014) -- A group of innovators at Picatinny Arsenal were presented a snap challenge from a visiting Pentagon official, with a time limit for brainstorming and developing potential solutions. The challenge was "detecting deep tunnels in dense urban environments."
The challenge was from Benjamin Riley, principal deputy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Emerging Capabilities and Prototyping, who visited Picatinny for two days beginning Sept. 27.
On the receiving end of the challenge were members of the Organization for Innovation Strategy of the Armament Research, Development and Engineer, along with ARDEC employees who the OFIS members work with.
Riley presented the "snap challenge" at approximately 12:30 p.m., giving the innovators until 3:30 p.m. to gather, consult and develop various solutions applicable to the challenge.
Almost everyone who showed up for the brainstorming session had participated in urban warfare workshops, which gave participants some familiarity with the topic. The challenge allowed employees to come together and produce potential solutions under the pressure of a time limit.
"I'm proud of where I work, who I work for and who I work with. We all have different expertise and different backgrounds but when put to a challenge we put our knowledge together and find a solution," said Andréa Stevens, a manager for innovation.
"I learned a lot during the challenge. I've never participated in one before since this is not a typical activity for a human behavioral scientist," said Elizabeth Mezzacappa, a human behavioral scientist at the Target Behavioral Response Laboratory.
The team presented its findings to Riley during a discussion led by Associate Director for Innovation Andrei Cernasov, who also led the brainstorming. The Innovation OFIS is comprised of Cernasov along with Stevens and Ernie Garcia, who helped to get the challenge team together for the brainstorming session.
"I liked them," Riley said of the proposed solutions to the challenge that he heard. "I thought they were good ideas and I liked the process of the way they laid it out.
"I think it's a good way to look at things particularly driven by the proliferation of technology we have and also the rapid changing of global events."
"During the exercise it was clear that there needed to be several approaches that needed to be coordinated," said Mezzacappa.
USE OF MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES
"The ARDEC Innovation Center brings together bright people with a broad range of education, expertise and experience," said Mechanical Engineer Leon Moy. "It is not just different types of scientists, but also veterans and Soldiers who can provide insight into how we can best help the warfighter.
"Sometimes the idea for a solution does not come from a scientific principle, a piece of technology or an existing weapon system. It may come from something sitting on your desk, one of your hobbies, an article you read a long time ago or something you saw while shopping.
"The brainstorming process involves throwing half thought ideas onto the table. Even though some ideas may seem unrealistic, someone else may have insight to make it reasonable or it might inspire a train of thought leading to an innovative solution."
The ARDEC OFIS is planning its next workshop which will focus on armament/weapons technologies for the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. FVL is a multi-year Department of Defense (DOD) development and production initiative to field a new vertical lift capability for the joint warfighting community.
Greg Phillips, Chief, Customer Account and Relationship Management Office, Business Interface Office, in conjunction with the Office of the Director of Technology, is coordinating ARDEC engagement for the FVL program.
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The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center is an internationally acknowledged hub for the advancement of armament technologies and engineering innovation. It strives to support the Army's efforts to ensure Soldier survivability and enhance platform and area protection by providing engineering, design and development support.
RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness--technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection and sustainment--to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.
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