Belleau Labs
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SPIS

AFWERX · AFWERX TACFI · AFWERX

AI-Readiness Score
14/25
Pathway Speed
4/5
Timeline Realism
3/5
Problem Framing
3/5
AI / ML Fit
1/5
Award + Transition
3/5

Award

$1,899,498
Award ceiling
PVILION, INC
Awardee
Posted July 19, 2024

Description

The proposed TACFI effort will improve the operational effectiveness of the SPIStechnology by optimizing its performance in varying climatic conditions, integratingmultiple power (AC & DC) inputs and outputs for agnostic integration into DoD andpartner nation systems, improve readiness through design for prepositioning, andimplementing fully autonomous environment controls with solar integration. Thesefour separate but interrelated lines of effort (LOEs) will be tested, evaluated, and fullyintegrated into four (4) new Version 2 SPIS kits for testing and evaluation by PACAFand AMC End-Users. These commitments from PACAF and AMC (shown below) totest and utilize the SPIS Version 2 kits with improved capabilities will be both incontrolled (on base) and uncontrolled (exercises/deployments) environments,capturing both qualitative and quantitative data. These deployments will vary inlocation, temperature, time of year, and weather conditions, but will be mainlyfocused on the INDO-PACOM AOR.These R&D LOEs were provided by End-Users to Pvilion during the Phase IIeffort, and are logical continuations and enhancements of the solution. This included adesire to safely preposition assets for long-term storage and increase readiness,successful tests in cold weather, increasing performance in the extreme cold, arequirement for power interoperability with all services (Army/Navy/Marine Corps),nations (Asia/Europe/America), and structure climate control (high temperaturecooling and low temperature heating utilizing SPIS technology. This feedback wascompiled during the Phase II effort, and is planned to be expanded upon anddeveloped during the TACFI effort.The effort will initially include but is not limited to the R&D of each LOE inconjunction with the End-Users (PACAF & AMC), to engineer, model, and prototypeindividual components of the 4 LOEs. Thus, there will be individual completedprototypes of the Prepositioning Environmentally Ready Package (PERP), ColdWeather Enabled Batteries (CWEB), Solar Powered Ruggedized High-EfficiencyECU (SPR HE-ECU), and Universal Input/Output Power System (UIOPS). Theseindividual component-level prototypes will be tested and evaluated both internallywith objective testing criteria and externally through the PACAF and AMCEnd-Users.This feedback will then be incorporated into Version 2 component-level units aswell as complete Version 2 SPIS Kit systems, including the new component in the LOEs for R&D, then delivery & training.The feedback garnered from one initial Version 2 SPIS Kit will be incorporated into 3further Version 2 SPIS Kits for AMC and PACAF uses in their RDT&E. Both PACAFand AMC are prepared to receive these units as per the Collaboration Agreement andthe Letter of Support & Participation, as stated by Colonel Aaron Walenga, DeputyWing Commander, 621CRW Travis AFB that the wing “will work with Pvilion, Inc.to train our personnel and conduct test and evaluation (T&E) efforts."

Score Rationale

The TACFI pathway is a genuine fast-track OT instrument and the award ceiling (~$1.9M) with named end-users (PACAF, AMC) and prior Phase II lineage suggests a credible transition posture, earning mid-range scores on speed and transition. However, the core problem is hardware and power-systems engineering — optimizing solar panels, batteries, and ECUs for climate conditions — with 'autonomous environment controls' being the only AI-adjacent hook, which is thin and likely means basic sensor-driven control logic rather than genuine ML; an AI-native startup has almost no differentiated angle here. Problem framing is reasonable but scope is broad across four hardware LOEs with no explicit software success metrics, and the unknown response deadline prevents a higher timeline realism score.

Source

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