Improving marksmanship training through data and analysis
DASA funding and support has accelerated South West based SME Cervus’s innovative training tool
- DASA funding has helped Cervus develop XCALIBR, a marksmanship analytics and feedback tool to improve individual and collective training
- In just 3 years, DASA funding and support has taken Cervus from idea, to trials, to a finished product
Marksmanship is one of the most important aspects of a soldier’s training, helping improve the ability to shoot firearms safely, accurately and consistently. But while weapons and training practices have changed over the years, the method of collecting and analysing shot data from marksmanship training has remained the same for over 100 years.
Wiltshire based SME, Cervus, recognised an opportunity to use data and analytics to revolutionise the way firearms training is delivered.
Introducing Cervus
Veteran-owned, small business Cervus provides data driven innovation and insight for those working in defence and security.
Cervus was first funded through DASA in 2019 to develop their innovation to capture training and performance data (such as shot accuracy and lethality) to give military leaders a detailed overview of individual and collective performance, quickly and accurately.
Now known as XCALIBR, Cervus’s innovation, is a well-developed app based system to provide real-time data to users, commanders or instructors on how well a soldier fired, held their weapon and when and where they hit the target.
XCALIBR has been designed by soldiers for soldiers; it is very small, non-invasive, waterproof and ruggedised. The innovation is also based on a smartphone app, ensuring it is simple and intuitive to use.
Using the data collected from XCALIBR an individual can make adjustments to improve their performance. At a commander and instructor level, it provides an overview of how individuals perform, enabling instructors to provide support to improve platoon performance and optimise collective training.
Right on target: Trialling Cervus’s innovation
As part of Cervus’s first DASA project, and as a result of DASA support to test the innovation with soldiers, the system was trialled in early 2020 with the Parachute Regiment in Kenya during the annual Askari Storm training mission.
Following a successful trial, and using insights gained from the testing in Kenya, Cervus secured further funding through DASA to refine their innovation, which was then taken to trial with the Royal Marines.
After this, and with DASA support, Cervus secured funding through the Army, Research, Innovation and Experimentation Laboratory (ARIEL) – the Army’s solutions accelerator to further test their innovation. Cervus’s innovation, XCALIBR, has been trialled at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick, and has the potential to improve a soldier’s marksmanship and the delivery of training.
Aiming for success: What’s next for Cervus?
In addition to trialling XCALIBR with the British Army, Cervus is in discussion with international partners, including the US Marine Corps, to find out how XCALIBR could support and improve their marksmanship training.
Alan Roan, Managing Director of Cervus said:
We would not be where we are today without DASA funding and the other opportunities DASA has opened up for us. To go from an idea to a product that is nearly ready to enter military service in just over three years is amazing and it all started with DASA.
DASA funding and support has acted like a kite-mark, giving validation that our idea had merit and opening doors for us within the Front Line Commands in the UK and internationally.
Currently, Cervus is undertaking another project with DASA that could speed up the simulation process, resulting in faster decision making and lowering the cost of experimentation. Using experience drawn from their previous DASA project, Cervus is already exploring how the product could be commercialised and taken into service.