FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – A team of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division secured a win at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition, taking the top prize in the innovation category.
Drone Innovation Takes Center Stage
The competition, held February 17-19 at the Huntsville Test Range in Huntsville, Alabama, brought together Soldiers from active duty, the National Guard, and the Army Reserve. Participants competed in three categories: Best Operator, Best Tactical Squad, and Best Innovation.
The 28th Infantry Division’s winning innovation team comprised 1st Lt. Ryan Giallonardo, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea, and Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr. Their project, Project R.E.D. (Recovery Exploitation Drone), featured a drone equipped with AI-enabled object-recognition software.
Project R.E.D. Is designed to identify and recover downed drones – both friendly and enemy – using a robotic arm with a claw, 3D-printed from carbon fiber. The recovered drones can then be used for intelligence gathering or repair.
“This is a great achievement for the team and the UAS facility as well as the Pennsylvania National Guard as a whole,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, the team captain. “Competing against the entire Army, putting in the work and coming out on top really speaks volumes to what the team has been doing.”
The innovation competition involved a “Shark Tank”-style pitch followed by a live demonstration. Judges reportedly “were very impressed” and offered the team an opportunity to collaborate with the Army Research Laboratory.
Other members of the 28th Infantry Division likewise participated in the competition. Capt. Christopher Rongione competed in the operator category, while Wehr and Sgt. Tyler Beck formed a team for the tactical squad category, which included a physical challenge and a “hunter-killer” drone exercise.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll presented the winning team with plaques at the awards ceremony on February 19.
What’s Next?
In addition to the plaque, the 28th Infantry Division team received an Army Research Lab drone prototype and a one-year research and development agreement. This agreement will allow the division to work with the Army Research Lab on further design improvements to Project R.E.D. It is likely that this collaboration will lead to further refinement of the drone’s capabilities and potential integration into Army systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the Best Drone Warfighter Competition?
The competition included three categories: Best Operator, Best Tactical Squad and Best Innovation.
What is Project R.E.D. Designed to do?
Project R.E.D. (Recovery Exploitation Drone) uses AI-enabled object-recognition software to identify downed drones and a robotic arm to recover them for intel exploitation or repair.
Who attended the awards ceremony?
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll attended the Feb. 19 awards ceremony and presented the winners with plaques.
As drone technology continues to evolve, how might innovations like Project R.E.D. Reshape battlefield tactics and intelligence gathering?
