Award

XO Armor has developed a healthy business with the core competency of delivering a user-friendly economic solution for on-site 3D printing of custom-fit body-worn protective medical devices. We propose advancing this technology for use by the US Army in austere environments and adding the capability to produce thousands of non-medical parts based on real-time needs. Technical Goals: The purpose of the proposed Direct to Phase II effort is threefold: 1) adapt our current 3D scan/print-based medical device solution to operate offline in an austere environment, 2) add additional capability to our system that includes a vast library of situationally relevant printable devices (medical and non-medical), and 3) ensure the upgraded system (Mobile Offline Manufacturing or MOM) is easy-to-use by all deployed personnel. The proposed effort has three critical objectives. First, XO Armor will enhance its current custom-fit medical device hardware and software solution by making the system capable of operating offline in austere environments, where connectivity can be unreliable or nonexistent and cybersecurity is of maximum importance. This offline capability is critical for the US Army to be able to deploy this technology in the field. Technical goal: develop robust 3D modeling algorithms that can easily manipulate modern 3D files on a local computer. Secondly, we will bolster our current system by creating an extensive library of printable devices. This library will be designed to cater to the needs of deployed US Army personnel and will provide them with on-demand access to a wide range of tools and equipment. This library of printable devices will reduce reliance on external supply chains and dramatically improve the speed at which essential items are deployed. Technical goal: develop a vetted library of over 5,000 components that align with Army needs and can be 3D printed locally. The third objective is to ensure the user-friendliness of the MOM system. Simplicity and reliability are paramount in austere environments and high-stress situations. Therefore, we will make the MOM system easy to use for all deployed personnel. Ensuring that soldiers can readily utilize this technology is essential to its successful implementation. Technical goal: develop a system that all users can learn and use within 15-minutes of training. The upgraded XO Armor solution will enable users to manage multiple printers remotely, receive new files to manufacture in the XO Library, and design new custom files for manufacturing as needed. This advanced software will also contain written and video onboarding materials which will allow new users to quickly learn how to utilize, maintain, and troubleshoot the MOM system as needed. The combined impact of these enhancements to current XO Armor technology offers the US Army a significant advantage by greatly simplifying logistical resupply.