King Crow Studios (KCS) is proposing to use our Structured Training & Evolved Process System (STEPS) methodology along with AI enhancements to deliver cost-effective VR training for the B-52. KCS was selected for funding for an AFWERX Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) SBIR. KCS is providing improved training on the B-52 and increase the effectiveness of the B-52 Virtual Reality Procedures Trainer (VRPT) by developing and integrating new modules, integrating the VRPT into medium fidelity training systems, integrating AI-augmented instructional aids, integrating VRPT into the stand alone, low cost, providing licenses for the FTU, and mixed reality with Varjo, Vive, or Meta HMDs to facilitate access to students. This is an 18-moth effort.
Score Rationale
TACFI is a modern fast-track instrument and scores well on pathway speed, but the description reads as a vendor-specific sole-source continuation for King Crow Studios rather than an open competitive opportunity, limiting its value to other AI-native startups. Problem framing is weak — the scope is a laundry list of integration tasks (HMD support, module development, FTU licensing) with no clear AI success criteria, no named data sources, and no measurable training outcomes defined. AI/ML fit is the lowest-scoring dimension because 'AI-augmented instructional aids' is entirely undefined — the core work is VR module integration and hardware compatibility, with AI grafted on as a descriptor; the $811K ceiling with no explicit production transition pathway beyond this TACFI phase further constrains the award/transition score.