We wanted to know more about some of the speakers and panelists at his year’s AUVSI EXPONENTIAL, which takes place May 8 – 11 in Dallas. First up is Dyan Gibbens, Founder and President, Trumbull Unmanned, who will be a panelist on the ‘Women in Robotics’ session, as well as running a panel on ‘Unmanned Operations for Oil & Gas’ and moderating a Keynote Panel on ‘Unmanned Systems Shaping the Enterprise’.
Dyan attended the Air Force Academy, where she was a member of the Air Force Parachute team and learned to fly. After studying engineering, she served as an Acquisitions Officer. While managing cruise missiles, a type of unmanned aircraft, she earned her MBA. Dyan then supported Air Force One and Global Hawk UAS engineering and logistics. Her PhD research in UAS/drones, RFID, wireless systems, computer vision and the promotion of hydrocarbon sequestration from a UAV led Dyan to the energy sector and being selected as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer (2015-2016).
1. At what point in your career did you first become involved with UAS in a professional capacity ?
My first introduction to unmanned and autonomous systems was while an engineering student at the Air Force Academy, but my subsequent career as an officer and a civilian has revolved around them.
In 2006, as an Acquisitions Officer, young Lieutenant, and engineer, I served as a program manager for stealth, nuclear cruise missiles, and inertial navigation systems. In 2010, I supported a yearlong Global Hawk initiative supporting sustainment, logistics, engineering. In 2013, I started Trumbull to transfer engineering and high-stress, high-risk, and high-value UAS operational experience gained in DOD work and my PhD activities to serve the energy sector.
2. What’s the difference between your day job and flying drones with your kids at the weekend ?
Flying drones with Trumbull and flying drones with kids really are not all that different. Our son is continually looking for new ways to use the technology and really pushes the limits of the technology. Just like our commercial operations we focus on safety, mitigating risk, and of course having fun. For work, our projects range from shoreline cleanup assessment technique (SCAT) training in Washington State to humpback whale research in Hawaii. One of the major differences is travel. The kids have not (yet) traveled to the Arctic, onto rigs, or Hawaii, but they really want to go to Australia so we may take them there.
Combining home and work has brought us closer as a family. Recently, my son and I supported a Microsoft YouthSpark event at the Dallas Myerson Symphony Center focused on serving underrepresented youth (one of many STEM events we support together). Other speakers included Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African American to conduct extra-vehicular activity (spacewalk) and Stedman Graham.
The Trumbull team, and our son, have worked closely with Rice University for years. This will be the third year we supported Drone Camp at Rice University with BP, the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL), and Microsoft. A few weeks ago, my husband and our son tested a tethered system and worked with Rice University students to document some findings. Trumbull worked with RCEL to create the Rice Owls Aerial Robotics (ROAR) club with whom our son works. He also helps with our 3D printing when we need to do some rapid prototyping.
This past year, we also supported Innovation Generation with Intel, a global STEM initiative focused on underserved youth. We are excited to see the ways Innovation Generation empowers students ages 16-22.
3. Which do you enjoy most ?
Both are rewarding and both are enjoyable, in different ways, but they also create different types of stress. It is almost like asking which child you like better. For me, I love seeing my kids fly and our son Trey is a Parrot Ambassador and flies a lot of their new tech. Professionally, I enjoy seeing the benefits of using technology to improve environmental sustainability and I love seeing technology empower underrepresented youth. I love that Trumbull allows me to support my passions.
This year, I am really excited about Microsoft Drone Academy and Service First. We are partnering with Microsoft and Kino-Eye Center (a STEM focused non-profit) on two large scale initiatives leveraging drones as the ideal STEM tool. I love to combine personal passions of serving veterans and empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers.
4. Do you still find time to go parachute jumping ?
I wish I could, but I have not been skydiving since graduating the Air Force Academy. Many of my fondest memories stem from the skydiving team. I am still at 495 jumps and I would like to reach 500 someday. So, I plan to jump or go tandem as President George H. W. Bush did on his 75th, 80th, 85th and 90th birthdays. Like President Bush, I had the distinct privilege to have jumped with the Army Golden Knights (I wrote my 3rd grade biography report on ’41′ and covered his first skydive as a Navy pilot in WWII).
My husband and I met on the Air Force Parachute team, the Wings of Blue, and he knows I love indoor skydiving. When he flew F-16s, and we were stationed in Utah, we lived near an iFly, indoor wind tunnel. Because I sustained ankle and wrist injuries on the Air Force Parachute team, indoor skydiving was a safe, easy option and we could take our kids. One year, my husband bought me an hour of wind tunnel time for my birthday, I ended up giving half of my time to our son and we have since taken both of our kids indoor skydiving (after they reached 3). I love the joy of seeing the next generation conquer fear, learn, and excel with the confidence of overcoming challenges.
5. What services does Trumbull provide ? How long is a typical mission?
Trumbull provides critical data to the energy sector, supporting primarily oil and gas and environmental initiatives. We perform advising, operations, and data analytics. About half of our projects are recurring and the other half vary dramatically. To date, Trumbull supported upstream, midstream, and downstream efforts both on and offshore. Many of our efforts have been end-to-end enterprise solutions solving our clients most technically challenging problems, to include engineering unique one of a kind solutions to data management.
We guard our clients propriety activities fiercely and do not talk about projects unless they specifically allow us. Projects that we can discuss are typically listed on LinkedIn, our client websites, or other news mediums. So this interview focuses mostly on our STEM efforts, which we love discussing. Last year, Sally French wrote a WSJ MarketWatch article on a 2-week gray whale applied research project comparing spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution of UAV-based, satellite-based, and shore-based infrared. A peer-reviewed paper will be published soon covering more detail.
For a typical mission, or operation, Trumbull has conducted 1-hour efforts to 1-month operations. We are now entering into long-term contracts, so we are excited for that change! Other efforts range from flying drones with NOAA and Oceans Unmanned to look for shipwrecks, to pipeline inspections, to vessel operations. While we aim to be the go-to company of our clients, we also collaborate on several projects with some of our great industry partners.
6. Where do you think that the industry will be by the end of the year ?
Sometimes, we make the comparison that a drone year is like a dog year. As with each year, stakeholders manage a lot of expectations, hype and regulations. I am excited to see advancements in the waiver process, autonomy, and BLOS/BVLOS.
In 2015, we flew BLOS outside of the US. As we continue to see advancements in autonomy, security, delivery, indoor flight, transportation, and battery technology, we can more fully realize the benefits of unmanned systems.
7. Tell us about the session on Oil & Gas you will be running at AUVSI Xponential in May.
This year, I will support a few events. The Oil & Gas panel has big names such as Shell, Total, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes…and Trumbull. We will discuss unmanned and robotic technology as it relates to surface, air and maritime operations.
Also, I will moderate a keynote panel and support the Women in Robotics session. Trumbull teammates will lead a “Boots to Business” session where they aim to help bridge the gap between military service and the commercial world.