The document describes Live Tactical Threat Toolkit (LTTT), a project seeking to create a stream of accurate information and insights for real-time defeat of improvised explosive devices by partner and coalition forces. The device will be network-agnostic, designed for adverse environments, and scalable across different information levels. It will allow for real-time translation, persistent communication in radio frequency-denied areas, and culture-agnostic interfaces. The team conducted customer discovery interviews with 14 stakeholders and ascertained key challenges, including information deficits, language and training barriers, and network capabilities.
Live Tactical Threat Toolkit (LTTT) Remotely Defeats IEDs
1. Live Tactical Threat Toolkit (LTTT)
Surgical-grade EOD, remotely
We seek to create a stream of accurate information and insights for real-time defeat of improvised
explosive devices by partner and coalition forces. The device we are building will be network-
agnostic and designed for adverse and low-connectivity environments, and will be scalable across
levels of information fidelity.
Alex Zaheer
CS
Cyberpolicy
Andreas Pavlou
Physics/International Security
Nitish Kulkarni
Hardware
Engineering
Alex Richard
CS
Gaurav Sharma
GSB
Main Sponsor: OSD // JIDA
Customers spoken to this week: 14
Support team/Sponsors:
Booz Allen Hamilton
US Army AWG
AGUA Holdings
Wolters Kluwer
Crossdeck, Inc.
2. Live Tactical Threat Toolkit (LTTT)
surgical-grade EOD, remotely
Team Member 1 Nitish Kulkarni Alex Zaheer Alex Richard Gaurav Sharma
Academic Program
MA IPS 2016 ME 2016 CS 2019 CS 2016 GSB MSx
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.c
om/in/andreas-pavlou-
02676753
linkedin.com/in/nitishk
2
linkedin.com/in/alex-
zaheer-ba6548bb
https://www.linkedin.co
m/in/arichard4
https://www.linkedin.co
m/in/gauravsharmastanf
ord
Subject Matter
Expert?
No
(Some Software/Proj
Mgmt)
No
(Sensor Fusion, Systems
Integration)
Yes
(Software
Engineering)
Yes
(Software Engineering)
Yes
(Military Information
Logistics)
Role
Jack of All Trades Hardware Engineering SWE SWE PM
Experience Solving a
Problem that
Seemed Impossible
Developing a curriculum
for a course on
Cybersecurity &
International Relations in
less than two days
Developed and designed
early-stage concepts for
multi-million dollar
DARPA aerospace and
ISR vehicle programs,
hypersonics.
Educating mostly
elderly workforce as a
youth regarding
âgoodâ security
practices -- many blank
stares
Senior in CS at Stanford,
specializing in Logic
Led a team that built a
system to ensure seamless
flow of equipment to build
rockets for SpaceX in 3
months (when everyone
said it would take atleast
twice as long)
3. Current MVP
Key Pain Points:
- Real-time translation (text, voice, video)
- Persistent Communication Links
- Operation in RF-denied or RF-unavailable environments
- Language/Culture-agnostic UI/UX
4. Customer Discovery
Hypothesis:
âą Build a Live Tactical
Toolkit digital
notebook for
differently located
coalition & US forces
to address diffusing
remote IED
(Improvised Explosive
Device)
Experiments:
âą Interviewed 14
stakeholders including
end users, planners,
solution providers, and
procurement teams
âą Ascertained
organization structure
and its relation to JIDA
Results:
Challenges include
âą Information deficit, data reliability
âą Coalition forces are illiterate, semi-literate
âą Language barrier, no minimum training standards for
coalition forces
âą Incentivizing coalition forces to use technology
âą Bandwidth and network capability
âą Possibility of RF-denied environments
âą Solution should be as easy as for kindergarten children
âą Hardware is not an issue, software is
âą Data encryption
âą Limited subject matter experts on IED & language
translators available
Action:
âą Study existing solutions within JIDA & private solution
providers
âą Interview more end users and private solution
providers
âą Possibly interview coalition forces
5. DARPA PCAS Team -
modifying existing
systems
Joint Improvised
Threat Defeat Agency -
work with technicians
who deal with problem
day-in day-out
General Atomics,
Raytheon - contractors
already working in this
space may be able to
provide key insight
ARMY Research Lab
NAVEODTECHDIV
ARMY Asymmetric
Warfare Group
Localization -
ensuring system is
applicable to every
forward deployment
Minimization -
ensuring product fits
every tactical situation
Bridge - bridging the
gap between forward
deployed technicians
and US remote
technicians
Personnel-centered -
creating a system
designed around those
who need it most
Integrated - creating a
tool that is an aid, not a
hinderance, to time-
critical operations
Engineers -
contractor/DARPA
employees may provide
technical insight
Technicians -
connections to those who
need this product most
Embedded operations
need support from those
who need product
Translation experts -
those who do job
already
Iterate - Multiple simulated
field test scenarios with
technicians to fit product to
need
Incorporation - product
has many possible futures -
can potentially be
incorporated into other DoD
product needs
Primary - JIDA, EOD
specialists in recurring
forward deployment
operations across
systems
Secondary - Military
remote technical
communications
wings. Software can
be co-opted for many
different
communications
missions
Fixed: Variable:
Software development optimization
IT Management/maintenance
Deployment training
Mission Achievement Criteria
Enable clear, safe, common-sense
communication of time-sensitive high-
stress technical information
Real-time IED Defeat Assistance for Coalition
and Remote Forces