Enabling Radical Innovation through Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations (JCTD): The Case of the 

I t t R ti i S (IRIS) JCTDInternet Routing in Space (IRIS) JCTD

Z. Szajnfarber and A. L. Z. Szajnfarber and A. L. WeigelWeigel

AIAA Space 2009AIAA Space 2009

MotivationMotivation

Disruptive change typically comes from outside of the “establishment” (Schumpeter 1934; Utterback 1994; Christensen 1997)

MODULAR PRODUCTHORIZONTAL INDUSTRY

INTEGRAL PRODUCT VERTICAL INDUSTRY NICHE

COMPETITORS TECHNICAL ADVANCES

HIGH- DIMENSIONAL COMPLEXITY

SUPPLIER MARKET

ADVANCES

PRESSURE TO INTEGRATE

PRESSURE TO DIS-INTEGRATE ORGANIZATIONAL

RIGIDITIES

COMPLEXITY

PROPRIETARY

POWER

SYSTEM PROFITABILITY

Unique market structure of space industry lacks pressure to “dis-integrate”,

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upsetting natural process of “creative destruction”

JCTD MechanismJCTD Mechanism

•• One “corrective” mechanism is the Joint Capabilities Technology One “corrective” mechanism is the Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program Demonstration (JCTD) program 

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(JCTD POG Narrative)

Research DesignResearch Design

• Key Question:– How effective is the JCTD program as a mechanism for encouraging

di ti t h l i l i ti b th ithi th D D ddisruptive technological innovation – both within the DoD andleveraging the creativity of “outside” contributors?

• Approach:– Conduct case study of the Internet Routing in Space (IRIS) JCTD (the

only space JCTD to date).

– Analyze case through the lens of market disruption and innovationtheory.

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IRIS Case StudyIRIS Case StudyIRIS Case StudyIRIS Case Study

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The IRIS ConceptThe IRIS Concept

IRIS spacecraft

IRIS waveform

IRIS spacecraft

IRIS waveform

public Internet

wireline

?

public Internet

wireline

?

Payload Operator NOC

NetOps interface

wireline ?

?

Payload Operator NOC

NetOps interface

wireline ?

?

other IRIS users

JIIM NOCJIIM NOC could connect to Payload Operator NOC and other JIIM user nodes over IRIS network

JIIM IRIS user nodeswirelesswireline

other IRIS users

JIIM NOCJIIM NOC could connect to Payload Operator NOC and other JIIM user nodes over IRIS network

JIIM IRIS user nodeswirelesswireline

NOC Net ork Operations Center

other JIIM networkscomponentsphysical interfaceslogical interfaces

or via other JIIM networks.JIIM user nodesHMMWVs could also be ships or boats.

NOC Net ork Operations Center

other JIIM networkscomponentsphysical interfaceslogical interfaces

or via other JIIM networks.JIIM user nodesHMMWVs could also be ships or boats.

NOC: Network Operations CenterJIIM: Joint, Inter-Agency, Inter-Governmental, and Multi-NationalNOC: Network Operations CenterJIIM: Joint, Inter-Agency, Inter-Governmental, and Multi-National

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The IRIS ConceptThe IRIS Concept

IRIS spacecraft

IRIS waveform

IRIS spacecraft

IRIS waveformThe IRIS innovation

Old way: “Bent-pipe” strategy (the on-orbit asset merely amplifies the i l d b it b k t tibl ff ti l h d)

public Internet

wireline

?

public Internet

wireline

?

signal and bounces it back to a compatible source, effectively unchanged)Vs.

New way: IRIS equipped satellites will perform both regeneration and processing on orbit (allowing the use of smaller ground stations and cross

Payload Operator NOC

NetOps interface

wireline ?

?

Payload Operator NOC

NetOps interface

wireline ?

?processing on-orbit (allowing the use of smaller ground stations and cross-beam, cross-frequency communication among any node in the network)

other IRIS users

JIIM NOCJIIM NOC could connect to Payload Operator NOC and other JIIM user nodes over IRIS network

JIIM IRIS user nodeswirelesswireline

other IRIS users

JIIM NOCJIIM NOC could connect to Payload Operator NOC and other JIIM user nodes over IRIS network

JIIM IRIS user nodeswirelesswireline

Nature of the Disruption•Places high technology in orbit (contrary to conventional wisdom)

NOC Net ork Operations Center

other JIIM networkscomponentsphysical interfaceslogical interfaces

or via other JIIM networks.JIIM user nodesHMMWVs could also be ships or boats.

NOC Net ork Operations Center

other JIIM networkscomponentsphysical interfaceslogical interfaces

or via other JIIM networks.JIIM user nodesHMMWVs could also be ships or boats.

g gy ( y )• Changes value proposition in market (potentially displacing powerful

incumbents)• Benefits accrue at system level

NOC: Network Operations CenterJIIM: Joint, Inter-Agency, Inter-Governmental, and Multi-NationalNOC: Network Operations CenterJIIM: Joint, Inter-Agency, Inter-Governmental, and Multi-National

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The IRIS Team: Overlapping InterestsThe IRIS Team: Overlapping Interests

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JCTD as an Innovation Mechanism

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JCTD as an Innovation Mechanism

• Advantages– Commercial P.O.V.

• Challenges– Mismatched “clock‐

• “Anchor tenant”

• Opportunity to prove out utility prior to wide

cycles”• E.g., waveform decision

utility prior to wide deployment

Government P O V

– Cost of Regulatory compliance

– Government P.O.V.•• leverage the paperleverage the paper‐‐toto‐‐orbit orbit efficiency of commercial efficiency of commercial 

i idi id

•• FinancialFinancial

• Cultural

• E.g. ITAR impact on service providersservice providers

• Influence innovation pathway with minimal i t t

g pinnovative culture of MNC

investment

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JCTD as an Innovation Mechanism

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ConclusionConclusion

• Great idea not sufficient to change the fundamentals of an industry

• Government buy‐in early is sufficiently important to merit weathering the challenges that government partnerships entailchallenges that government partnerships entail. 

• JCTD joint venture model not sustainable in current form 

• Currently functioning because: l i bj i b il i h d h i f– overlapping objectives built into the program – and shear persistence of many 

of the key stakeholders – rather than a sustainable long‐term alignment of interests. 

• In general:• In general:– Most entrants will neither have the economic stability to fund, nor the 

commitment to pursue, an IRIS‐like innovation to the extent that Cisco has. 

• Given that most radical changes come from outside it is in the• Given that most radical changes come from outside, it is in the government’s interest to make the infusion task more manageable. 

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