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“Reclaiming Silicon Valley’s roots” |
| Founded: 2017,Orange County, California, USA
Category: Aerospace, Computer Vision, National Security Primary office:Orange County, California, USA Core technical team: Orange County, California, USA Status: Private Employees: 101-250 Amount raised:USD$241million (4 rounds – April 2020) |
OVERVIEW
PERFORMANCE METRICS
ACHIEVEMENTS
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Sells
- Lattice platform – Artificial intelligence software that is the foundational product and backbone that uses machine learning, sensor fusion and mesh networking to provide an autonomous operating picture (situational awareness). All Anduril products use a Lattice AI core for sensor fusion, target classification and multi-track reconciliation
- Sentry tower – Hardware autonomous awareness solution equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and Lattice with compact footprint, hardened onboard processing and solar power architecture. Rapidly deployable in austere/remote locations (such as along the US/Mexican border)
- Ghost sUAS – Autonomous vertical takeoff and landing small unmanned aircraft system for unmanned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance). Single operator can accomplish complex tasks from a single airframe to large swarms. Modularity allows for a variety of sensors, payloads and power sources
- Anvil sUAS – Hardware-based precision kinetic intercept using physical speed and onboard guidance, informed by Lattice, to autonomously seek and destroy drone threats
Channels
- Partnerships with US government clients (primarily)
- US “program of record” – direct funding from U.S. Congress
- New US government procurement vehicles that prioritize innovation
Competencies
- Big data, cloud, AI/ML – expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning applied to U.S. government pain points (currently focused on perimeter security)
- Technology – application of consumer/commercial technologies (e.g., offers rely on the same chip technology developed by Tesla and other companies for driverless cars)
- Business model – Dislodge large defense contractors and radically evolve defense capabilities through the exploitation of breakthroughs in consumer and commercial technology; perform own R&D rather than contracted R&D
Distinct AI Features
Type
- Machine learning
AI use
- Anduril uses Artificial Intelligence-Machine learning to provide solutions to US Department of Defense and other federal clients (currently focused on surveillance)
Rate of return on customer’s investment to make AI work
Immediate:
- Surveillance products that are easy to deploy, use, and have a variety of use cases (e.g., border security, base defenses, critical infrastructure, and counter drones)
Long term:
- Disruption of antiquated defense market dominated by three large defense companies allowing for innovative and timely solutions
Databases
- Real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) data gathered from a cross-selection of sensors – no facial recognition or other personal identification data
Quantum Computing
- No explicit mention of quantum computing in Anduril collateral. Generically, quantum computing is expected to enable artificial intelligence by, for example, handling huge amounts of data, building better models and more accurate algorithms, and using multiple datasets (integrating datasets more quickly)
Resources
Assets
- Experienced and successful founding team
- Broad range of technical competencies – including software, hardware (chip design), artificial intelligence, etc.
- Lattice platform that provides artificial intelligence backbone that uses sensor fusion, machine learning and mesh networking enabling autonomous functionality
- Investors committed to disrupting the defense industry
- Partnerships with US government clients
Processes
- Performs its own R&D – does not rely on government contract R&D
- Works directly with government clients on critical Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision challenges
- Repurposes consumer and commercial technology to defense needs
- Learn by doing – will send engineers into deployment spaces – including battlefields
- Silicon Valley processes for rapid client-focused development of products and solutions
Priorities
- To build an inventive company in the defense industry (Investor view: Disrupt antiquated markets untouched by technology that have a major societal impact)
- Provide clients with actionable intelligence within minutes of product activation
- Adapt consumer and commercial technology and supporting development processes to defense needs
- Broaden client base from initial non-defense government sector to large defense market
- Bring venture capital funding to defense
- Deploy 200 autonomous surveillance towers in 2020 (mostly along US/Mexico boundary)
References
- Anduril website. 2020. https://www.anduril.com/
- Brustein, J. (2020). Peter Thiel-backed surveillance startup Anduril is valued at $1.9 billion. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-01/anduril-startup-backed-by-peter-thiel-is-valued-at-1-9-billion
- Gregg, A. 2020. Silicon Valley tech start-up Anduril raises $200 million to create a software-driven Defense Dept. contractor. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/01/silicon-valley-tech-start-up-anduril-raises-200-million-create-software-driven-defense-company/
- Lewis, L. 2019. Resolving the battle over Artificial intelligence in war.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03071847.2019.1694228?casa_token=Nl5yB2hKiwAAAAAA%3A65-x1NWcQ4ieqODQ8l7COw1T2NudZDLeUXoDqADmXxnUmExOx6UT45hzHMNAwOyQ81UInv-Asj-DuZ4
- Miroff, N. 2020. Trump administration hires tech firm to build a virtual border wall, and idea Democrats have praised. https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-virtual-border-wall/2020/07/02/7b380490-b0ac-11ea-a567-6172530208bd_story.html
- Swayne, M. 2020. Four ways quantum computing will change artificial intelligence forever. https://thequantumdaily.com/2020/01/23/four-ways-quantum-computing-will-change-artificial-intelligence-forever/
- Wattles, J. 2020. How SpaceX and NASA overcame a bitter culture clash to bring back US astronaut launches. https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/09/business/spacex-nasa-astronaut-launch-demo-2-culture-clash-scn/index.html
Contributors
- Dan Craigen
