SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- AFWERX, the catalyst for fostering innovation within the U.S. Air Force, announced VayuAI as one of the 179 participating teams selected from across the globe competing to Reimagining Energy for the DoD.
The AFWERX Challenge is centered around six topics - Fixed and Mobile Energy Generation, Energy Transmission and Distribution, Fixed and Mobile Energy Storage, New Warfighting and Operational Equipment, Data Availability for Improved Planning and Decision Making, and Energy Culture, Policy, and Education. The proposals selected to advance represent innovative solutions to allow for more effective warfighting and humanitarian missions less reliant on fossil fuels.
Located in San Francisco, VayuAI is competing in the New Warfighting and Operational Equipment alongside a diverse group of teams - originating from the vast regions of North America, Europe, Australia and other allied countries – that represent entrepreneurial startups, small businesses, large enterprises, academic institutions and research labs all vying to Reimagine Energy for the Department of Defense.
"The AFWERX Reimagining Energy for the DoD Challenge is critical to our mission of increasing collaboration between large businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate solutions for the Air Force," stated Mark Rowland of AFWERX. "On behalf of AFWERX and the Department of Defense, we congratulate the teams advancing to the next phase. Their contributions are invaluable and have the potential to create game-changing results across the Air Force enterprise."
The New Warfighting and Operational Equipment Challenge strives to radically reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and create non-fossil fueled vehicles and equipment. The Department of Defense (DoD) consumes large amounts of operational and facility energy to provide a combat-credible force. The DoD is one of the largest single consumers of energy globally, and the Air Force is the largest user of fuel energy in the US Government. The way we generate, transmit, store, and use this enormous amount of energy today is both a paramount combat enabler and a potentially crippling vulnerability.
VayuAI's cloud-based platform will reduce labor-intensive tasks by enabling drones to autonomously and safely navigate their environment and perform their work. VayuAI enables drones and robotic ground vehicles to maneuver without risk of collision- in all weather, day or night. This breakthrough will allow the Air Force to transfer appropriate manned truck, helicopter, and fixed-wing aircraft missions to smaller and more efficient autonomous vehicles, with significant savings in fuel and manpower.
"VayuAI's proprietary technology retires the current model of one drone per human operator," said Jim Kiles, CEO of VayuAI. "This will enable a more scalable and autonomous fleet capable of executing the most challenging missions."
To learn more about the Reimagining Energy for the DoD Challenges, click here
ABOUT VayuAI
VayuAI's cloud-based AI enables connected machines to work better together to dramatically enhance outcomes. Solutions are focused on Drones and Wind Energy.
Learn more at vayuai.com.
ABOUT AFWERX
Established in 2017, AFWERX is a product of the U.S. Air Force, directly envisioned by former Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. Her vision of AFWERX — to solve some of the toughest challenges that the Air Force faces through innovation and collaboration amongst our nation's top subject matter experts. AFWERX serves as a catalyst to unleash new approaches for the warfighter through a growing ecosystem of innovators. AFWERX and the U.S. Air Force are committed to exploring viable solutions and partnerships to further strengthen the Air Force, which could lead to additional prototyping, R&D, and follow-on production contracts.
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Media Contacts:
Neil Cohen
[email protected]
AFWERX Media Contacts:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Media Contact
Jim Kiles, VayuAI, +1 (415) 317-2956, [email protected]
Neil Cohen, VayuAI, 415-652-5544, [email protected]
SOURCE VayuAI
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