1. AquaLink
Navy divers perform challenging tasks under challenging conditions, and
having the right equipment can be a tremendous capability multiplier.
How might we improve the operational effectiveness of our nation’s divers?
AquaLink is an ecosystem of devices that provides added situational
awareness to divers and their supporting elements to aid mission success.
TEAM
Dave Ahern: International Policy/Defense Acquisition
Hong En Chew: Hardware Engineering
Rachel Olney: Product Design
Samir Patel: Mechatronics/Finance
SPONSOR
Jordan Spector & U.S. Navy Special Warfare Group 3
U.S. Special Operations Command
AquaLink
This Week Previously Total
Users 6 37 43
Buyers 3 14 17
Experts 1 20 21
Interview Breakdown
2.
3. Act
1a. Test Buoy MVP in water
1b. Test Electronics MVP
2. Test Buoy + Electronics in water
3. Find Commercial Application
Observe
Buoy is waterproof to 10’
GPS readout on LCD over 50’ of cable
Who else has done this?
Recap
Orient
Customer discovery interviews
Do we yet have Product-Market Fit?
(with diagrams of MVP - we seem to be on the right track)
Explore dual-use applicability
Decide
Need physical MVPs to gauge buy-in
and validate Product-Market Fit
(we need to put something in the customer's hands)
Need to test for Feasibility
Find Commercial Applications
2
34
1
4.
5. Key Activities/Resources
Customer Discovery ManufacturingOutreach TestingFunding
H4D Class
SDVT-1
129th Rescue Wing
Full Time
SOCOM Demo
SOCOM RDT&E
SOCOM Demo
SBIR
Partners
Housing
Integration
Laboratory
● Jabil
Field
● SDV-1
● SOCOM
● PEO-M
7. Deployment?
May June July Aug Sep NovOct
Legend: Testing Equipping
Operational
SDV-1NSWG-3NSWCOMSOCOM
Prototype Refinement
PEO-M
ODR CDD
SBIR
CDD Validation
J8: Test & Eval
Prototype Eval
8. Finance Funds for MVP creation
Supply Chain Resources for Manufacturing
Physical Manufacturing Facilities, Testing
Facilities
Human Advisors for: Guidance on Process,
Military Expertise, Operator Knowledge
Network of support to enable process.
Mission Model Canvas
Who: SDV/SEAL Divers
How: Commodore of NSWG-3
approves if long-term/external funding
is not needed, otherwise Commander
of NSW needs to approve
KEY PARTNERS KEY ACTIVITIES
KEY RESOURCES
VALUE PROPOSITION BUY-IN / SUPPORT
DEPLOYMENT
BENEFICIARIES
MISSION BUDGET MISSION ACHIEVEMENT FACTORS
Conduct Customer Discovery
Outreach to key partners
Design and Manufacture MVPs
Test MVPs for functionality and with
customers
Obtain approval by Navy
- Hardware/software prototyping costs (RDT&E from SOCOM)
- Purchase of existing products on the market for evaluation (NSWG-3 or
NAVSOC N-8).
1. Feasibility: At the end of the quarter, SDVT-1/NSWG-3 decide that our
proposal merits further development and initiates their internal processes for
funding/pilot testing/field deployment i.e. creating the ODR
2. Performance: Our prototype should demonstrate that all critical features can
be integrated within given size/weight/cost specs
3. User satisfaction: Seamless integration into current SOP, increased
situational awareness
4. Increase Mission Capabilities: Reduce the time it would take for the diver to
get a GPS fix 500% increase in efficiency.
FOLLOW THE PROCESS:
● SDVT-1/NSWG-3/NSW
CDR create ODR
● N8 drafts CDD
● J4 will select office to lead
the charge
● N8/Ops field test, third-
party labs certify
● J8 creates official
requirements
● N4 approves funding
End Users (Divers)
Influencers
SWG 3
Decision Makers
NSWG-3
NSW
Research Entities
Commercial Divers
Fishing
Tourism
NSWG
Provide greater situational
awareness for SDVT-1 with a
mechanism for the SDV to
obtain absolute location and
comms while staying underwater
and minimizing exposure.
Research Entities
Provide a periodic check in from
equipment placed in the field.
Commercial Divers and
Fishing
Enable the location of assets.
Tourism Divers
Find lost tourists or have an
automatic location check in.
SOCOM: Provide funds
NextFlex: Materials Supplier
Stanford PRL/AOERC: Enable
manufacturing and Testing
Problem sponsors: Navy
Special Warfare Group 3
(NSWG-3), U.S. Special
Operations Command (SOCOM)
Course Faculty and Staff, DIUX,
Military Liaisons:
9. AquaLink Value Proposition SDVT-1 Diver
Value Proposition Canvas
A device that enables the SDV/dive pairs to:
1. Obtain absolute location
2. Obtain comms link
Enhanced situational awareness of location of
self and others on-demand with minimal
exposure
Time spent lost
Difficulty of finding objects or the SDV
underwater in poor visibility
Avoidable incomplete missions due to lack of
a convenient comms channel for C2 node to
update SDV/divers and adapt plan of action
on the fly
Complete assigned
mission within time
constraints
An easily accessible GPS fix
An easily accessible satcom network
between dive pairs, SDV, and C2 node
A small form factor,
easily deployable
and retrievable
buoy with GPS and
satcom capability
10. AquaLink Value Proposition Research Diver/Oil & Gas
Value Proposition Canvas
1. Able to geo-tag observations of ROVs Use of ROV/UUVs
Access to inertial navigation units
Inability to capture absolute location of
observed activity
Complete research
mission tasks
An easily accessible GPS fix
An easily accessible satcom network
between divers
A small form factor,
easily deployable,
retrievable, and
economic buoy
with GPS and
satcom capability
11. MVP: Position Communication
Data Out: Position & ID
Data In: Positions & IDs
Version 1.0/2.0: SDV Buoy
Version 3.0: Small Scale
Diver Buoy
15. Mission Achievement
Version 1.0: GPS/Iridium Version 2.0: Motor Driven Version 3.0: Scaleable
NSWG Operators:
● Provide enhanced location to the
SDV
NSWG Commanders:
● Provide Increased situational
awareness (know where the SDV
is actually at)
Scientific Divers:
● Location-tracking for
Researchers, Mapping/Locations
of Interest
General Population:
● Waterproof Case for Deep Sea
Diving
NSWG Operators:
● Enhanced operations
● Time/distance features
Ocean-based Communications:
Shipping, Travel, Tactical
Emergency Signals:
Distress
NSWG Operators:
Provide similar location + comms
capability to dive pairs
Commercial Dive Masters:
● Able to track all divers
● Divers who get lost have an
means to communicate back to
boat crew and dive master