The Meloy Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program hosted Phantom Invent: Fight Tonight - Solutions on Site, an intensive design experience aimed at tackling some of the toughest challenges faced by the III Armored Corps.
This unique event gave participants a full week to collaborate closely in developing innovative solutions that could be utilized by the U.S. Army in future operations. The sponsorship from the Corps allowed students to engage in customer discovery interviews directly with the end-users of their designs.
With teams consisting of an equal number of engineers and soldiers, participants saw the value of contributions made by teams with diverse backgrounds and enhanced their problem-solving capabilities.
“You’re working with the people who are going to use your product,” explained Gowtham Kadiyala, an electrical engineering student and member of the first-place team, Da Goats. “Their feedback is really valuable in the design process.”
The week concluded with an awards ceremony where seven teams pitched their designs and a total of $11,000 in prize money was distributed.
Team Da Goats secured first place in the event with their effective litter design, RAILS (Reactive, Adaptive and Innovative Litter System), designed to address the challenges faced by soldiers in the secure transport of injured personnel.
As the name suggests, RAILS incorporates a rail system that allows the litters to slide effortlessly into cargo vehicles, as well as four corner dowels that interlock into a wooden base, complemented by Velcro straps to ensure security. This solution not only streamlines the transfer process but significantly improves the care of those injured.
“We talked to both soldier and civilian emergency services, and we saw that there is a stark difference between the two in the technology and quality of the equipment used for transportation,” explained Kadiyala. “We thought that simplicity is often key and ran from there.”
Tied for second place, team How-it-Survived-the-Week (HISTW) developed a simple yet effective solution to necessary tank maintenance.
The bore evacuation system of the M109 Paladin Howitzer tank, essential for releasing residual fumes from gunfire, is currently very challenging to maintain. The thrust collar, which provides access to this system, is difficult to remove and known to easily break.
To address this critical issue, the team tested several prototypes before finalizing a locking mechanism that is affordable, durable and easily accessible. Collaborating closely with soldiers from the Corps, who provided valuable insights from their personal experiences, the team designed an improved thrust collar featuring a lever lock.
“Watching these students rally together, find a feasible solution and nail their presentation was really impressive,” remarked Noah Harrington, a soldier in the III Armored Corps and member of team HISTW. “Getting to know them and see their engineering skills in action was an awesome experience.”
Also awarded second place, team Desert Boys emphasized the military's need for safe and standardized litter transportation operations.
Their solution featured a slide lock mechanism that is easy to manufacture and install and versatile enough to fit any standard cargo vehicle. In a live demonstration, Desert Boys showcased their prototype, highlighting its accessibility by demonstrating that it could be easily fashioned with various materials readily available to soldiers.
“Meeting the soldiers and hearing their experiences makes Phantom Invent special,” noted Gaurav Bharatha, an aerospace engineering student. “It gave me the opportunity to learn more about the problems that the III Armored Corps are facing right now and work together with them to find a solid solution they can use.”
This week of innovation underscored the mutual benefits of the ongoing partnership between Texas A&M University and the III Armored Corps.