Project OREGON TRAIL

Excite the crowd and summarize your solution in a few sentences

Project OREGON TRAIL is a quick, rip out the door solution for moving pallets, and equipment in austere environments without the use of a forklift. This new process and asset will eliminate man hours/fuel/electricity and possible maintenance repairs, while also providing more pallet positions on your forward deploying aircraft to deliver mission critical equipment to get the mission done. This small austere power generation equipment will make us more ready to go Any Time, Any Place Any Where.

What is the Problem, Opportunity, or Unmet Need (POU)?

The current deployment process cannot keep up with the pace in an ever-changing ACE domain.

When a unit has to deploy out to an austere location, the logistics planning process for cargo/equipment can be very crucial when it comes down to space and time. 

On a regular deployment, to set up a FOB you will need a 10k AT forklift to move equipment where you may need, but when prepping an AT forklift, it takes 95 man hours to disassemble/reassemble. Also once disassembled, it takes up 5 pallet positions on the aircraft plus a pallet position for fuel needed to operate that vehicle. That is an entire C-130.

On another note, for people who do not work with this vehicle often, they continuously need maintenance and fuel. So again, this can tie in to limited space on the aircraft.

Who has the Problem, Opportunity, or Unmet Need?

This item would be very useful for any unit deploying anywhere where MHE support is not at the arriving location.

What are the users doing now? What is the status quo?

User's currently hand lift/carry items across FOB, and breaking open ISUs to carrying equipment at unnecessary distances.

What is the solution?

HOW IT WORKS:

After aircraft landing in austere location and utilizing combat offload method C, a minimum of 4 personnel can setup a tripod on each corner with a hand chain hoist device. The 4 separate chain hoist devices will be connected to the corners of the 463L pallet platform. Once connected to each corner, the personnel will use the hoist to lift the pallet off the ground approx. 12-15 inches parallel to the ground. Once lifted, member(s) will then slide the 2 rolling platforms under the pallet and engage the “foot brakes”. Members then lower the pallet onto the rolling platform, strap it down, and enable it to be mobilized by utilizing push/pull method and/or attaching a tow bar for a small vehicle (i.g. ATV/STEED/truck w/pintle hook attachment).

You may also use the same method to take the equipment off the pallet and disperse it where you may need.

Why/how is the proposed solution better than the status quo?

This solution is better than the status quo is because it is more cost effective, takes up less space, and if you put one of these setups on every chalk, and if one chalk was to break, then you will still be able to move the cargo/equipment on the chalk still flying out. This asset can also be easily Airdropped or pre-staged in locations where we will potentially operate.

Are there known risks and barriers to implementing this solution?

One potential risk could be rolling the pallet or equipment down or uphill, while being pushed could potentially harm someone, but that is the purpose towing capability to litigate the risk.

What resources do you have available to you currently to solve this problem?

I have currently been given $25k of SIF funds to create a prototype of concept, and start testing approx: Oct 2022

What is your "Ask"?

my ask is for engineering and acquisition support and approx. $150K to develop, test, and demonstrate this capability in 1-2 operational experiments in the INDOPACOM region.

View the video here:

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/863165/annual-spark-tank-project-oregon-trail

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