ABOUT THE PROGRAM
A TWIST ON THE FAMILIAR
AAL's Cohort Program is similar to an accelerator, similar to a hack-a-thon, similar to traditional acquisitions, but none of those things by itself. This highly interactive model brings together a group of companies that don't usually work with the DoD and invites them to collaborate. Cohorts aren't focused on making one widget or bound by rigid requirements. They work on dissecting and solving complex operational problems for the Army.
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HOW IT WORKS
INTENSE COLLABORATION
We bring Army clients and cohort members together throughout the program to share insights and solve the problem as a team. By including Army Program Managers (PMs) throughout the design process, we deliver realistic solutions while reducing risks to cost, schedule, and performance. Rather than spending millions on one solution that may not work, we quickly validate new ideas that can solve multiple problems and scale into other dual-use solutions.
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Past Cohorts (1/4)
Robotic Combat Vehicle Sustainment
Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCVs) reduce risk to Soldiers and deliver advantages during conflict. But the Army can only retain these advantages if RCVs stay in the fight. To implement smart-sensor capabilities to help sustain these platforms, AAL partnered with the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team and PM Maneuver Combat Systems to choose 10 pioneering companies for the cohort. During the course of 12 weeks, these companies received hands-on experience with RCVs as well as the Project Origin technology demonstrator, to create targeted tech for Soldiers.
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Past Cohorts (2/4)
Power Transfer Cohort
Without tactical charging capabilities, the Army can't operate electric vehicles in the field. During the 8-week Power Transfer Cohort, six companies answered the question, "Is an electric vehicle infrastructure possible for the Army?" Now, they are addressing, "How do we do it?" The answers came to light as selected companies moved forward — some delivered a low-power proof of concept and others took on new Army projects for continued development.
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Past Cohorts (3/4)
Fire Faster Cohort
Reloading Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPH) is a highly manual process. The Army needed a better way to do it & to reduce physical strain on Soldiers and keep up with next-generation operations. The first cohort to use our SPARTN model worked to find solutions, including automating the entire firing process from fuzing to loading. Following the 18-week program, five companies were selected for follow-on, direct-to-Phase-II SBIR contracts. Of those, 80% of the companies had little to no DoD experience, demonstrating what we know to be true: the best solutions don't always come from familiar sources.
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Past Cohorts (4/4)
Soldier Power Cohort
The US Army has increasingly applied advanced technologies to create enormous force multipliers on the modern battlefield. As a result, Soldiers “on the move” in expeditionary environments now contend with the challenges of additional weight, gear, and demand for ever-increasing amounts of power. To explore and develop power or energy solutions that address this challenge, AAL partnered with a diverse group of Army modernization and transition stakeholders to stand up the Soldier Power Cohort and deliver enhanced expeditionary capabilities to Soldiers.
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