Written by: Laura Dempsey
When the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) was asked to work toward ensuring success of the U.S. Air Force 2030 Science and Engineering Strategy, they introduced a new concept: focused advanced development programs called Vanguards. Vanguard programs “will aim for significant technical achievements that demonstrate the viability of leap-ahead capabilities,” according to the published Strategy. One such Vanguard is Skyborg, an autonomy-focused capability that will enable the Air Force to operate and sustain low-cost, teamed aircraft that can thwart adversaries with quick, decisive actions in contested environments.
Digital Engineering is expected to enable the USAF to shrink the timeline from science and technology to full operating capability for game-changing Vanguard programs such as Skyborg by providing significant long-term development, production, operations, and sustainment efficiencies. AFRL turned to Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) to successfully position the Vanguard Digital Engineering Research team (AFRL VaDER) to apply Digital Engineering capabilities to Skyborg.
As a first step, WBI planned and executed Virtual VaDER/Skyborg Outcomes Workshops, designed to identify outcomes desired by different stakeholders and to categorize and prioritize those outcomes. To ensure the best use of the VaDER team’s time and effort, WBI initiated several pre-workshop meetings to develop a full understanding of the vision for the program. And, because the effort took place during the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s “social distancing” edict, WBI managed a quick pivot to an all-virtual format – a first for many of the participants. Several more workshops are planned.
WBI was instrumental at the start of the Skyborg program in late 2018, facilitating early workshops that fostered relationships between AFRL and Air Force test and evaluation experts.
Dr. Pam Kobryn, VaDER Program Manager stated: "I’d like the WBI Board and AFRL to know how quickly and gracefully the WBI team supporting VaDER transitioned from the original plan for face-to-face workshops to a completely new plan for virtual workshops. You did a fantastic job of working through the technology and preparation aspects of the new plan in short order, and you’ve stayed on top of the changing technology landscape. You also did an admirable job of facilitating the workshops and capturing the results from the group.”
Sources: https:afresearchlab.com.technology/vanguards/successstories/skyborg