A team of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division won the innovation category at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition.
The competition, held Feb. 17–19 at the Huntsville Test Range in Huntsville, Alabama, included Soldiers from active component, National Guard and Army Reserve units. It featured three categories: Best Operator, Best Tactical Squad and Best Innovation.
The 28th Infantry Division innovation team consisted of 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr.
Their project, dubbed Project R.E.D. (Recovery Exploitation Drone), used a drone equipped with AI-enabled object-recognition software to identify downed enemy or friendly drones. The system also included a robotic, 3D-printed carbon-fiber arm with a claw that could grab a drone and return it for intelligence exploitation or repair.
“This is a great achievement for the team, the UAS facility and the Pennsylvania National Guard as a whole,” said Reed, the team captain. “Competing against the entire Army, putting in the work and coming out on top really speaks volumes about the team and the effort they’ve put in.”
The innovation competition included a Shark Tank-style pitch on the first day followed by a live demonstration on the second.
“The judges were very impressed,” Reed said. “We received a lot of positive feedback and opportunities to continue working with the Army Research Laboratory.”
Reed, commander of the Unmanned Aircraft System Training and Innovation Facility at Fort Indiantown Gap, said the competition was strong.
“They did a lot of great work and presented impressive projects,” he said. “It was an honour for our team and for the state to be recognized among such strong competitors.”
The 28th Infantry Division was the only Army National Guard unit to compete in all three events.
At the Feb. 19 awards ceremony, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll presented the winners with plaques. The team also received an Army Research Lab drone prototype and a one-year research and development agreement to assist with design improvements.
Source: New Hampshire National Guard