Influencing policy (training slides from Fast Track Impact)
AquaLink Improves Diver Situational Awareness
1. AquaLink
Navy divers perform challenging tasks under challenging conditions, and
having the right equipment can be a tremendous capability multiplier.
How might we improve the operational effectiveness of our nation’s divers?
AquaLink is an ecosystem of devices that provides added situational
awareness to divers and their supporting elements to aid mission success.
TEAM
Dave Ahern: International Policy/Defense Acquisition
Hong En Chew: Hardware Engineering
Rachel Olney: Product Design
Samir Patel: Mechatronics/Finance
SPONSOR
Jordan Spector & U.S. Navy Special Warfare Group 3
U.S. Special Operations Command
AquaLink
This Week Previously Total
Users 5 24 29
Buyers 1 7 8
Experts 0 19 19
Interview Breakdown
2. Customer Discovery
Hypotheses Results Actions
Deployed divers want a
method of finding the SDV
that is more accurate than the
current pinger method
Interviews with the leaders of
three SDVT-1 platoons,
presentation of MVP 1
#3: The current pinger method
is not very accurate but it is a
workable solution, improving it
would be great but not an
urgent need
Removed from problem
statement/value proposition
The SDV needs a mechanism
of obtaining its position and/or
communicating without having
to go near the surface
Interviews with the leaders of
three SDVT-1 platoons,
presentation of MVP 2
#1: This is the highest
priority problem as it directly
affects situational awareness
during the mission, possibly
also the lowest hanging fruit
Consolidated problem
definition and made this the
central value proposition
Mission planning would be
aided by a device that collects
diver position data which can
be downloaded and visualized
for post-dive analysis
Interviews with the leaders of
three SDVT-1 platoons,
presentation of MVP 3
#2: This is a currently non-
existent capability which
would greatly aid situational
awareness, but generates
less excitement than #1
Removed from problem
statement/value proposition
Experiments
12. Mission Model Canvas
Who: SDV/SEAL Divers
How: Commodore of NSWG-3
approves if long-term/external funding
is not needed, otherwise Commander
of NSW needs to approve
KEY PARTNERS KEY ACTIVITIES
KEY RESOURCES
VALUE PROPOSITION BUY-IN / SUPPORT
DEPLOYMENT
BENEFICIARIES
MISSION BUDGET MISSION ACHIEVEMENT FACTORS
- Problem sponsors: Navy
Special Warfare Group 3
(NSWG-3), U.S. Special
Operations Command (SOCOM)
- Commercial partners: mil-
spec dive equipment
manufacturers
In order of priority:
1) Provide location to the SDV
2) Provide comms between the
SDV and C2 node
3) Provide similar location +
comms capability to dive pairs
- Defence procurement
expertise: course staff,
sponsors, DIUX, liaisons
- User expertise: military divers,
commercial/scientific divers
- Hardware/software prototyping costs (RDT&E from SOCOM)
- Purchase of existing products on the market for evaluation (NSWG-3 or
NAVSOC N-8).
1. Feasibility: At the end of the quarter, SDVT-1/NSWG-3 decide that our
proposal merits further development and initiates their internal processes for
funding/pilot testing/field deployment i.e. creating the ODR
2. Performance: Our prototype should demonstrate that all critical features can
be integrated within given size/weight/cost specs
3. User satisfaction: Seamless integration into current SOP, increased
situational awareness
FOLLOW THE PROCESS:
● SDVT-1/NSWG-3/NSW
CDR create ODR
● N8 drafts CDD
● J4 will select office to lead
the charge
● N8/Ops field test, third-
party labs certify
● J8 creates official
requirements
● N4 approves funding
End Users (Divers):
LT Scott Terry, SDVT-1
LT Derick Shima, SDVT-1
Other SEALs
Influencers
LT Jordan Spector, SDVT-1
Master Diver, SDVT-1
Decision Makers
CAPT Travis Schweizer, NSWG-
3
REAR ADM Brian Losey, NSW
Provide greater situational
awareness for SDVT-1 with a
mechanism for the SDV to
obtain absolute location and
comms while staying underwater
and minimizing exposure.
Option 1:
Provide a more accurate
mechanism for divers to locate
the SDV and/or locate deployed
objects more efficiently and
reduce lost time
Option 2:
Record diver location history and
make it available for post-dive
analytics to aid intelligence
generation
13. AquaLink Value Proposition SDVT-1 Diver
Value Proposition Canvas
A device that enables the SDV/dive pairs to:
1. Obtain absolute location
2. Obtain comms link
3. Locate objects or the SDV
Enhanced situational awareness of location of
self and others on-demand with minimal
exposure
Find the SDV or an object more quickly and
with more accurate tools
Time spent lost
Difficulty of finding objects or the SDV
underwater in poor visibility
Avoidable incomplete missions due to lack of
a convenient comms channel for C2 node to
update SDV/divers and adapt plan of action
on the fly
Complete assigned
mission within time
constraints
An easily accessible GPS fix
An easily accessible satcom network
between dive pairs, SDV, and C2 node
A small form factor,
easily deployable
and retrievable
buoy with GPS and
satcom capability
A set of beacons
that will allow
divers to hone in
on something.