Prize Challenge Seeks Solutions for Automation Used in DMT

The Central Florida Tech Grove, in partnership with the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), is hosting the first Tech Grove Prize Challenge, The Joint Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) Interoperability Configuration Management Tool Challenge, to find solutions to technical challenges in implementing true synthetic training environments for military readiness.

A NavalX-funded initiative, the prize challenge awards the top-rated participant $50,000, with $30,000 and $20,000 awards to the second and third place participants. The goals of these challenges are to connect external innovative problem solvers, entrepreneurs, and start-ups with the DoD to help solve the hard problems.

Carol Ann Logue, Central Florida Tech Grove director, said, “This prize challenge is an opportunity for industry to experience the real problems facing the DoD organizations. It will begin to eliminate a manual, time intensive part of planning for LVC training acting as phase 1 of several between industry and the government to get to a solution, starting with prototypes and simulations of possible solutions.”

The challenge objective is to create a prototype of solutions that automate the process of assessing initial configuration settings of the training systems and components intended to be used in a Distributed Mission Training (DMT) exercise. The prototypes will be evaluated by subject matter experts (SME) from the supporting DoD organizations with the backgrounds and experience in developing synthetic training environments.

Diana Teel, NavalX Central Florida Tech Bridge director, said the prize challenge provides opportunities. “Innovation is happening at a high level with entrepreneurs, small businesses and tech start-ups, and the DoD is reaching out to these innovators in unique ways to understand how they solve problems,” said Teel.

By competing in the prize challenge, the teams are evaluated and then qualified to continue work toward supporting DoD organizations. The hope is that the Prize Challenge will help to engage with a variety of companies within the Defense Industry Base (DIB) and companies that are not currently doing work with the DoD.

The challenge is an opportunity for anyone in the industry to see what problems the DoD is facing. It brings different thinkers together while creating an environment for innovation.

For more information about Central Florida Tech Grove Interoperability Prize Challenge, attend a virtual information session on April 3. Register here.