Rapid Prototype Development, Experimentation and Demonstration
Abstract
Technologies, innovations, and threats continually emerge and require rapid response. Pre-set, yearly, or even quarterly proposal/review cycles are not sufficiently responsive to the dynamic nature of cutting-edge technological breakthroughs, engineering innovations, new operational concepts, and/or emerging threats. Rapid prototyping and demonstration addresses this issue by: - improving alignment across Fleet and Marine Corps forces, Requirements, Budgeting, and Research & Development organizations to prioritize initiatives and streamline management and execution of rapid prototyping and experimentation, - allowing the DON to "learn fast" through prototyping - completing projects as rapidly as possible to improve follow-on system acquisition decisions before incurring significant costs, - unleashing the intrinsic ingenuity of the Navy's Science and Technology (S&T) community, the NR&DE, and our talented Sailors and Marines. In response to Fleet needs, rapid prototyping and demonstration will identify and select prototyping initiatives based on direct and continuous Fleet engagements. Integrated teams consisting of scientists and engineers from across the NR&DE are promptly deployed to interact with Fleet Commands, the Navy Warfare Development Command, and Warfighting Development Centers. The rapid prototyping and demonstration approach considers maturing S&T technologies and engineering innovations produced through Future Naval Capabilities, Innovative Naval Prototypes, Naval Innovative Science and Engineering (NISE) Section 219, Emerging Capabilities and Prototypes, and commercial technologies as potential prototypes. Direct and continuous interactions between our scientists and engineers and the operators they support will drive innovation and, more importantly, align technical ideas with operational needs at the earliest stages in prototype development. Prototypes are used to refine operational concepts and requirements through experimentation campaigns making maximum use of tools, ranges, and test facilities readily available within our NR&DE and Fleet experimentation venues. Prototypes will be demonstrated in operationally relevant environments on an accelerated timeline. Deliverables include actual integrated hardware/software prototype system(s) and experimentation events, CONOPS, requirements analysis, test report(s), and technical data package(s) to support experimentation events, limited fielding decisions, and to inform leadership decisions on the development of an acquisition program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- e3ecd9598583b21af947fca1a0e8fc9a