Defense One / Lauren C. Williams

GDIT Brought A Truck To A Satellite Show

The tech infrastructure company debuted a mobile mission control and data center built on the chassis of a Ford F-550.

ST. LOUIS—A matte-black Ford F-550 with the word “RAVEN” emblazoned on the side commanded the showroom floor at GEOINT 2023. The truck’s trailer was filled with servers, computer monitors, phones—gear to secure communications and collect data during a disaster response. It was eye-catching and certainly unexpected at a geospatial conference. And it didn’t exist until just weeks ago. 

Defense One sat down with Ben Buckley, vice president of General Dynamics Information Technology, to understand what Raven is meant to do:

Buckley: So the idea is that a lot of these [mobile data centers] are more disconnected. They're just like mobile hard drives. They're not necessarily completely integrated into the mission. But the point of this is to be an edge node that's integrated and part of a broader data fabric so that not only can we stage this to be deployed with data, but also that it can do collection where it goes. And that data can actually be used and synchronized. It's supposed to be a more integrated platform and not something you send to go do something with limited capabilities and then is unable to bring any data back to the broader enterprise. 

D1: Are there remote capabilities? What about data storage?

Buckley: There's storage on board. You can launch a drone, or it could be other data that you would want to ingest. You could actually take the data ingest it, run machine learning algorithms on that data to search for things and so and to do analysis on that. [With] mobile devices [there’s potential to go] up to five miles with 5G to do analysis on as well. Especially if you get deployed in some sort of constrained environment where there may not be resources and even mobile access, this truck can provide a central point for command and control.

D1: How long can it go without connecting to power?

Buckley: It depends on the load of the truck and what you're actually doing. Days, for sure. As long as you can refuel it, you can run it. But we've been running it pretty much consistently since we got it and it doesn't actually consume as much fuel as we would expect. 

D1: Do you anticipate any challenges fielding this for disaster response or military operations?

Buckley: We want to make sure that it has the ability to integrate with the data that it needs to have for the missions that it deploys on. We don't want this to be a standalone system that gets deployed, has static data at rest. We want to be able to integrate with whatever system it needs to so that it can actually have live data, and actually useful data in real time. Because that's one of the large challenges right now: just the sheer amount of data that's available and how do you have a mobile tactical system like this that still stays integrated to that data? And that's one of the main challenges we're trying to solve with this.

D1: That means testing in disconnected environments where there isn’t much service to see how it does?

Buckley: We have multiple ways of connecting through 5G, through satellite. But the idea is that we want our systems to be able to be integrated with the data sources, so that not only when we do local [data collection] that that information can be transmitted back, but when we have to get it sent out that we can quickly stage and get the data downloaded. Because this has to be able to operate without comms if needed; it needs to be survivable by itself. 

D1: Is that where the on-board data storage comes in? So operators can refuel on data?

Buckley: A lot of times it's not just data, it's recent data—especially when conditions are changing. Or [the truck] might be collecting more recent data than other people can see. So how do you collect data here and then get that information to others that are not where you are? 

D1: So it can store data, pick it up from other sources, and also collect it.

Buckley: And then it can run machine-learning models on the data to look further inside the data that we collect to further identify things.

It's not just the hardware in the form factor, it's the integration. It's more about making this work with data, making sure that we solve the data challenges than almost the platform. So how do we get disconnected operations, have maximum capability, maximum data, ability to collect data, and then the ability to share that. So that's really what this platform is trying to accomplish.

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.