Five servicemembers won the XVIII Airborne Corps “Dragon’s Lair, Episode 6”, Monday, December 6. These innovators created three innovations, which were chosen by a panel of technology experts from across the civilian industry and DoD.
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Justin O’Brien assigned to 88th Air Base Wing located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, designed a battery-operated, water-cooled plate carrier system, designed to keep servicemembers up to 30 degrees cooler in hot and humid conditions.
U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Christian Lance Relleve, an Army Reserve Officer assigned to the California based 453rd Chemical Battalion, leveraged Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to predict interior floor-plans based on a building’s external architecture.
The third innovation is a M88 gunner harness system created by a team of three Soldiers: Sgt.1st Class Keenan Millay, Staff Sgt. Carter Casey, and Spc. Johnathan King assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade located at Fort Knox, Ky. The team created the harness system for the M88 Recovery Vehicle to prevent injury or death to a gunner in a vehicle accident or roll over.
"This episode saw a wide diversity of innovations – from Augmented Reality to Machine Learning to welding of equipment already available in inventory. Of the seven presentations, five could easily have won, so the competition was substantial.” said U.S. Army Col. Joe Buccino, Dragon’s Lair Executive Producer. “This was the first time we’ve had three winning innovations. This was also the first time we had a truly joint Dragon’s Lair: we had innovations from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army Reserves. We also had leaders from across the civilian tech industry and DoD evaluating each pitch.”
Each innovation was identified by a servicemember to solve an inefficiency across the DoD.
As civilian architect, 2nd Lt. Relleve used his skill set to create a simplified algorithm to predict interior layout using exterior architecture. His goal is to provide an edge for the warfighter in the evolving landscape of conflict. His innovation allows a strike cell to predict the interior layout and cycle-of-life of any building on earth using AI and Machine Learning
The cooling system presented by 1st Lt. O’Brien can prevent heat related injuries to servicemembers in combat and training.
1st Lt. O’Brien said during this presentation that “heat-related injuries have been plaguing the DoD.” 1Lt O’Brien stated that “from 2009-2019 over 17 servicemembers have died from heat injuries and the DoD has spent over $1 billion on heat injuries.”
The Fort Knox-based Army team developed the gunner restraint system after the tragic death of a fellow Soldier due to an M88 roll over incident in 2018. The team searched for a restraint system for the M88 Recovery Vehicle within the Army supply system, but realized that none existed.
After discovering the supply deficiency, the team also realized the gunner did not have proper line of sight to fire the M2 .50 caliber machine gun from the gunner’s turret. Due to the short weapon placement, gunners have to lean back or sit on top the vehicle to ensure proper aim.
To fix both of these issues, the team fabricated a 14.25 inch metal extension to the M2 mount to extend the gunner’s space and bolted a retractable gunner restraint system to the floor of the M88, much like the harness design used in other tactical vehicles.
"The impact of this is potentially going to be outstanding with saving lives and preventing injuries." said Spc. Jonathan King. "Having a system to keep you from being ejected from a vehicle in the event of a rollover is potentially lifesaving."
As winners of Dragon’s Lair 6, the innovators received an Army Meritorious Service Medal, 4-day pass, an Army school of their choice, and their idea will be carried forward by the XVIII Airborne Corps to implement across the force.
“The next step is now working with the DoD on a glide path toward implementation for each of the three winning ideas. That’s what we’re working on immediately” said Col. Buccino.
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