SBIR-STTR Award

Innovative Position Navigation and Timing
Award last edited on: 1/10/2020

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$800,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF182-002
Principal Investigator
Gareth Block

Company Information

Third Insight (AKA: Visual Semantics Inc)

4309 Adirondack Summit Drive
Austin, TX 78738
   (936) 647-5517
   N/A
   www.thirdinsight.ai
Location: Single
Congr. District: 25
County: Travis

Phase I

Contract Number: FA9453-19-P-0604
Start Date: 10/18/2018    Completed: 10/18/2019
Phase I year
2019
Phase I Amount
$50,000
Third Insight specializes in low-cost, mobile platforms that perform 3D positional tracking and mapping when GPS is untrustworthy or unavailable.Our patent-pending approach uses sensor fusion and artificial intelligence to enhance commonly available hardware platforms, including standard body cameras and autonomous drones.We propose to perform customer discovery, feasibility and utility assessments of an Intelligent Body Camera for the war fighter.An off-the-shelf body camera would be modified to include an embedded processor running Third Insights neural networks, computer vision, position-estimation and mapping algorithms.The resulting mobile device would provide:* Dense, 3D visual maps around the war fighter as she navigates within buildings or unknown terrain* Centimeter-accurate, 3D trajectories of her path, useful for egress, tracking and command and control* Integration of multiple war fighters (local) 3D visual maps into a single (global) 3D visual map that would enable autonomous drones and other teams to better plan future operations* Facial recognition to identify and track targets-of-interest* Cyber-hardened software implementation and FIPS-encrypted communicationsIn summary, Third Insights commercial solution would provide real-time situational awareness about both 3D tracking and visual cuesterrain, building interiors and targets-of-interestthat existing PNT technologies do not address.position,Navigation,timing,GPS,PNT,3-D Mapping,2-D Mapping,Sensors

Phase II

Contract Number: FA9453-19-C-0626
Start Date: 7/2/2019    Completed: 7/2/2020
Phase II year
2019
Phase II Amount
$750,000
Third Insight has developed the next generation in artificial intelligence-based autonomous UAV navigation software. We have combined our patent-pending Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solution with a specialized suite of sensors and a US-built micro-UAV to enable rapid, autonomous inspections of large aircraft during pre/post-flight inspections and phased maintenance. Over the full 18 months of this Phase II work effort, Third Insight proposes to build and test multiple autonomous drone solutions for USAF and commercial partners. Customer discovery, engineering development/testing, and ensuring DoD compliance for on-base operations will be key focus areas. Phase 2 milestones include flight tests with USAF maintainers at one or more Texas ANG bases in Texas. Letters of support are included from two-star general Dawn M. Ferrell (TXANG, Deputy Adjutant General – Air), who gives Third Insight her highest possible recommendation and support to develop and test our drone solution with maintainers at three wings (F-16, C-130, and MQ-9) across Texas, and from our commercial partner, Flatirons Solutions, which provides technical information management to 8 of the 10 largest airlines in the world.