SBIR-STTR Award

Kairos presents an innovative, cost-effective approach for converting existing watercraft, both commercial and military, 0xA0 into optionally unmanned surface vessels (USV's). 0xA0 We propose using our existing Rapidly Installable Robotic Appliqu Kit (RIRAK) in surface vessels in place of a human operator. 0xA0 The resulting USV may be controlled remotely by an operator, and/or tasked with path-following, which is a navigation automation which allows the robot 0xA0 to maneuver the vessel along a series of UTM/GPS coordinates. 0xA0 Such USV's can be used for ferrying supplies and/or personnel in the event of relief or assistance operations, when qualified vehicle operators are a) injured, b) too few in number, or c) unwilling or unable to navigate in disaster areas. The existing Kairos RIRAK (the P4U Uomo) has proven its capability to be rapidly installed into ground vehicles, in about 15 minutes, and convert them into optionally Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV's). 0xA0 0xA0 To migrate the RIRAK for use in USV's requires minor to significant enhancements based upon the mode of operation. 0xA0 0xA0 It is proposed the RIRAK automate surface vehicles with the following three modes of operation: tiller, steering wheel, and weight distribution. The RIRAK will undergo a series of improvements as the design approach is changed for the surface vessel mission. 0xA0 0xA0 As discussed below, various mechanisms will be developed to convert existing RIRAK capabilities designed for ground vehicles, to be translated for use in typical, surface vessels though to be obtainable in the environment of natural disaster. In addition, we envision the substitution of some stainless steel and plastic parts for those currently made of aluminum, to accommodate the ocean water environment. 0xA0 0xA0 Electro-mechanical parts such as drives and servos will receive additional water protection, as will power connections and circuit boards

Benefit:
The unmanned surface vessel market was estimated to be $534 million in 2018 and is projected to reach $1,020 million by 2023. C Commercial applications include: oil and gas exploration and construction, oceanographic data collection, hyrdrographic, oceanographic and environmental surveys, to name a few. Self-driving vehicles are a large and rapidly expanding marketplace, and the associated autonomy kits are 90% of current Kairos revenues. 0xA0 0xA0 Our proposed 0xA0 RIRAK for USV's 0xA0 solution leverages our existing track record in tele-operated and path-following robotic ground vehicles, onto the additional platforms of surface vessels. 0xA0 0xA0 We believe we will be able to offer a wider array of automated vehicles to the US armed forces, for such tasks as automated resupply, wounded personnel transport, and emergency relief supply. 0xA0 0xA0 We also believe we will be able to provide an experimental USV platform suitable for military and university researchers.

Keywords:
Rapidly Installed Robotic Applique Kit, Rapidly Installed Robotic Applique Kit, Unmanned, Made in the USA, UxS, USV, RIRAK, Robotic, self-driving

As the need for rapid response continues to rise, the Department of the Navy is seeking to automate many of its assets through the SBIR Unmanned Surface Vessel initiative to assist with HADR operations. In late May of 2020, Kairos Autonomi began work on Phase I of the HADR SBIR program. With the Kairos USV system, any standard Jon boat or small surface vessel that carries any standard outboard marine motor can be automated and made to follow pre-defined GPS coordinates with no additional or destructive alteration needed to the surface vessel. This fact is vital in dangerous operational environments, as any small surface vessel can be rapidly equipped with this system by a single individual, sent into danger with no risk to a human operator, and perform a fully autonomous mission with a high probability of success. These systems underwent multiple revisions through a spiral model of development. Build, Test, AAR, Iterate. Kairos is natively a manufacturing company with significant applied science expertise. We are not an S & T company. All of our designs and products are based upon existing legos and we build a new concept from there. We do not start a program unless we already have 80% existing and proven from a manufacturing, hardware and software sense. Tech transfer and commercialization are inherent as we deliver nearly 100% on an FFP basis to customers globally. Throughout this document the word autonomous our autonomously are used. Please construe these to mean an automated system or automation. They are not Autonomous as that does not exist yet. These Automated systems execute combinational logic to follow a GPS course, if sensors are present they can detect and avoid an object based upon rules of passage. At the conclusion of the Phase I contract period, Kairos had produced several functional systems. During field testing, Kairos demonstrated that their system did surpass both of the Phase II requirements.

Benefit:
Kairos Autonomi is primarily a production company that specializes in engineering and technological solutions, as opposed to an S&T company; this fact allows Kairos to rapidly manufacture, modify, and alter its products to fit within the framework of many other applications. The two products Kairos would seek to commercialize following the conclusion of the SBIR Round II would be the robotic applique kit that will be mounted onto the hull and motor of the Jon boat and outboard marine motor, allowing for automation of the small surface vessel, as well as the Kairos UAS system, a small unmanned aerial system capable of delivering a payload. The USV system will be tested thoroughly through autonomous pathing of Jon boats or other small surface vessels during the course of the SBIR Rounds I & II, making it a suitable candidate for market expansion into many other fields of aquatic use, for example sea farming. The UAS system would also receive constant iteration and development of its GPS pathing capabilities, making the system a suitable candidate for autonomous payload delivery on a private scale. Presently, however, the world of autonomous vehicles is unregulated, and as such, Kairos would not seek to market these USV or UAS systems publicly. For the time being, the Kairos USV and UAS systems will be strictly distributed to the federal government through the Department of the Navy for their use in HADR operations and further operational testing. Potentially, these systems could be distributed to other military branches for similar uses, such as the Coast Guard for coastal patrol or similar HADR missions, or even the Army for use in an operational support capacity. It is anticipated that market investment per system would remain the same as costs per system during the course of the SBIR Rounds I & II were these systems to come to private market. The primary plan for Kairos during the transition from Phase II into Phase III includes working directly with the DoN, specifically ONR and Dr. Michael Qin, to deploy this USV technology to operation zones internationally. By this time, Kairos will have refined its Phase 1 & II USV prototype to complete autonomous missions of 15 km while carrying a payload of 135 kg and achieve near total success every deployment. Currently, few small surface vessel robotic applique exist; as such, manned missions must be sent into potentially dangerous operating environments during HADR operations. With the Kairos USV system, the risk to personnel can be eliminated and successful missions will require a considerable amount less energy expenditure from field assets. Field testing of the Kairos USV system has occurred and will continue to occur frequently, with large scale tests happening throughout the course of Phase I & II to further prove the capabilities of the Kairos USV system prior to final Phase III submission to the government.

Keywords:
SBIR, UAV, USV, RIRAK, ONR, PHASEII