VNR: UH innovation takes center stage at Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi

Matthew Nakamura from ARL at UH

Nakamura demonstrating ARL's new tech

ARL's sensors in the water

Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/iyOmhTCcSZ

WHAT: The University of Hawaiʻi’s Applied Research Laboratory displayed its newly developed low-cost, maritime acoustic sensors that detect incoming aircraft. Nine sensors were deployed in waters off Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi, and the information they collected was transmitted to a computer on shore. The sensors are intended to assist Pacific Rim allies and partners in strengthening coastal defense.

This was one of more than 20 cutting-edge technology demonstrations that were showcased at the Pacific Operational Science and Technology (POST) Field Experimentation (FX) event, which is an annual event designed to provide a stage for demonstrations of novel and emerging technologies that engage defense innovators from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. allies and partners from around the Indo-Pacific region. It drew approximately 800 attendees from government, industry and academia spanning 10 countries.

WHO: The Applied Research Laboratory at UH planned and organized the event.

WHEN: March 7

WHERE: Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• The POST FX event culminated the weeklong POST conference that was held at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.
• Other demonstrations aligned with innovation priorities, including defense against electronic attacks, improved awareness of land, sea, and air domains, and the provision of humanitarian aid in the wake of natural disasters.
• This is the fourth time POST FX has taken place.
• The theme for the 2025 Pacific Operational Science and Technology Conference, “Together We Prevail,” underscores the importance of information sharing, technology development and mission-focused cooperation to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/iyOmhTCcSZ

VIDEO:

BROLL: (1:21)

0:00-0:06 - wide shot of the event

0:06-0:29 - ARL at UH displaying its technology

0:29-1:21 - shots of the event

SOUNDBITES:

Margo Edwards, Applied Research Laboratory at UH Director

(0:17)

“ARL’s been building a number of very inexpensive sensors that listen for aircraft, incoming aircraft, but they float out on the water, and the idea is that our allies and partners that are here from around the Pacific Rim will be able to use these to protect their coastlines.”

Joshua Baghdady, Applied Research Laboratory at UH uncrewed systems communications engineer and POST FX coordinator

(0:16)

“It's really critical that Applied Research Laboratory continues to be a center of excellence for federating the research community around defense innovation. It's good for Hawaiʻi and it's good for the Pacific Rim as we maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific with our like-minded allies and partners.”

Matthew Nakamura, PhD candidate in mechanical engineering and graduate research assistant at the Applied Research Laboratory at UH

(0:12)

“It's really cool that we've been able to participate in this event. I've been with it, I think, every year that it's been here so far, and, being able to interact with folks around the world is really good to showcase UH’s capabilities.”

Edwards

(0:11)

“This is the 4th year that we've done this. Every year it gets bigger, it gets better. This year we have 22 technologies. All of them are actually active, so it's not just a tabletop display. There’s something that's going on.”