Defense2018 — 2022
Computer vision and 3D-printed airframes for small drones
How an SEO shop ended up building for special operators — and what it taught us about software that can't fail.
U.S. Department of Defense · Army West Point
The problem
A DoD employee watched Brett fly a drone backwards off a wakeboard boat to film the rider. That conversation turned into a four-year contract building small unmanned aircraft systems for special operators.
What we built
- 01
Additive manufacturing systems
3D printing systems and methods for sUAV airframes and parts, built for field conditions.
- 02
On-board ML & computer vision
Machine learning and computer vision systems integrated directly into the aircraft.
- 03
West Point Capstone
Technical Advisor to West Point's Capstone program — hands-on instruction for cadets in 3D printing methods, practice and theory.
Stack
- Computer vision
- Machine learning
- Additive manufacturing
- sUAS
Outcome
The standard we still hold: build for the people in the field, and make it work when it matters.