AFWERX program backs new technology for emergency teams and military wildfire efforts
Picogrid and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Mission Innovation X (MIx) have been awarded a $1.75 million contract through the U.S. Department of the Air Force’s innovation program, AFWERX. The goal of the project is to develop new ways to help emergency and military teams respond more effectively to wildfires.
The award was made under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II program. This program supports partnerships between small businesses and research institutions to create new solutions for national defense.
Wildfires continue to be a major threat in the United States. Military teams often work alongside local and state authorities to manage fire emergencies. The new technology developed by Picogrid and MIT will support this mission.
Jake Jeffries, Technical Program Manager at Picogrid, stated: “Wildfires pose a serious threat to DoD installations, and the military has consistently played a vital role in responding to them across the U.S. Our technology enables Air Force end users, such as fire departments, to deploy compact and portable sensor packages that stream real-time full-motion video back to command centers. This is invaluable for monitoring active wildfires, deterring crime, and supporting emergency response efforts.”
Fast Deployment and Long-Term Support
Picogrid’s tools are already in use at locations such as Vandenberg Space Force Base. The company delivered Helios, a mobile sensor system, in under 24 hours.
“At Vandenberg Space Force Base, for instance, we delivered our Helios hardware in under 24 hours. Helios provided mobile and rapidly deployable capabilities with under 15-minute setup to establish persistent surveillance in vulnerable areas. This adds to our multiple Lander platforms already in use at Vandenberg for long-duration missions to get early situational awareness of local fires. Given both Helios and Lander are fully independent of the existing power grid and communication infrastructure, we have ensured operational reliability in austere conditions. What sets us apart is our focus on information interoperability across military, state, municipal, and other fire departments,” said Jeffries.
The Lander platform also supports dispersed sensors by providing power and communications in remote or rugged locations.
A Unified View for All Stakeholders
Picogrid’s software helps bring together data from many types of sensors. This allows emergency response teams and command centers to view all information in one place.
Zane Mountcastle, CEO of Picogrid, explained:
“Picogrid’s platform creates a single pane of glass for emergency operations by consolidating data from dispersed sensors and enabling it to be shared through open APIs. The goal is to make the same information accessible to many stakeholders simultaneously, whether they are in the office or working on mobile devices in the field.”
The focus on open access and ease of sharing helps ensure that everyone involved—from federal agencies to local responders—can work from the same real-time data.
About the Program
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX created the STTR and SBIR programs to bring small business innovation to the Department of the Air Force. These programs aim to reduce delays, support new ideas, and help companies deliver solutions faster.
Since 2018, the “Open Topic” program has expanded the types of technology the Air Force is willing to fund. The partnership with Picogrid and MIT MIx reflects this effort to strengthen national defense through flexible, fast-moving technology development.
As the press release notes, “The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.”
About Picogrid
Picogrid is a defense technology company focused on connecting sensors, autonomous vehicles, and people through a unified software platform. With locations in El Segundo, CA, and Lawton, OK, the company supports military and enterprise customers worldwide.
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory leads science and technology research for the Air Force. It has over 12,500 team members working across air, space, and cyberspace domains.
About AFWERX
AFWERX is the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force. Since 2019, it has awarded more than 6,200 contracts to help bring new technologies to defense operations.
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Read more:
- MatrixSpace Secures $1.9M AFWERX TACFI Contract for Advanced Base Defense Radar System
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- NASA Advances Drone Technology for 24/7 Wildfire Response
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
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