The most surprising aspect of this story to me is that the Air Force was allowed to exercise this level of resourcefulness. I just assumed that the procurement process would stipulate 10 year support contracts or something similar.
If some officer can cobble together a proof of concept from COTS parts and show that it is just as reliable and effective as the boutique stuff from Raytheon, et al., at a way cheaper price, you bet that it will be met with considerable attention if not approval. Most ground-based military drones these days are controlled with Xbox controllers because those controllers are cheap and ubiquitous. In the 90s, Doom (with mods) was pressed into service as a simulator to help teach Marines fireteam tactics.
About the most stiff-necked branch of the U.S. military is the Navy. I'd be more surprised if the Navy approved a PS3 supercomputer, especially if it were to be run aboard ship.
Comments
The most surprising aspect of this story to me is that the Air Force was allowed to exercise this level of resourcefulness. I just assumed that the procurement process would stipulate 10 year support contracts or something similar.
Most would be quite surprised by how resourceful the military can get when a need arises. It's simultaneously impressive and scary.
If some officer can cobble together a proof of concept from COTS parts and show that it is just as reliable and effective as the boutique stuff from Raytheon, et al., at a way cheaper price, you bet that it will be met with considerable attention if not approval. Most ground-based military drones these days are controlled with Xbox controllers because those controllers are cheap and ubiquitous. In the 90s, Doom (with mods) was pressed into service as a simulator to help teach Marines fireteam tactics.
About the most stiff-necked branch of the U.S. military is the Navy. I'd be more surprised if the Navy approved a PS3 supercomputer, especially if it were to be run aboard ship.
There is a lot of innovation in the contracting/procurement space with Government. As an example, check out AFWERX.
me too. Large, even medium-large private bureaucracies may have also made it a challenge.