Accelerating Innovation Through Diversity of Thought: DE&I Takeaways at XPONENTIAL 2022

May 26, 2022 | AUVSI News

XPONENTIAL 2022 was the first large-scale convening of the uncrewed systems industry following the launch of AUVSI’s DE&I Advisory Group earlier this year, and the Advisory Group hosted more meaningful discussions at this year’s show than ever before. How does diversity of thought impact the uncrewed systems community, the technology we design, and how our systems integrate into society? Two programming sessions – a Sandbox to collect community insights and a Workshop to dive into issues in-depth – sought to foster discussions around these questions. At the Sandbox session, attendees shared their thoughts on open-ended questions: 

• What does DEI mean to you? Attendees’ responses centered around overcoming biases, advocating for others, and valuing varied voices and perspectives.
• Where are you in your DEI Journey? Responses ranged from recent eye-opening experiences to lifelong learning and striving for improvement.
• What difference would diversity have made in a previous challenge in our industry? Reponses identified more holistic solutions that could have been achieved through improved problem-solving, understanding of end-users’ needs, and rollout to ensure that all communities could benefit from our technologies.
• Why is your organization considering efforts to improve DEI? Responses included: talent recruitment and retention, future workforce preparedness, and desire to improve product development.

 During the workshop, attendees heard three case studies that provided a framework to consider how diversity of thought impacts our industries. The first case study focused on supporting inclusivity through language and was presented by Laila Salguero-Saeed, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Peraton; Dr. Virginia (Suzy) Young, Chair, AUVSI Board of Directors, Erik Amend, Manager, Executive Office of UAS Integration Office, FAA; and Casie Ocana, VP of Marketing, Airspace Link. Dr. Young shared lessons learned from AUVSI’s gender-inclusive name change, and Erik Amend shared updates from where FAA is in its long-term journey towards inclusivity. The group also discussed ongoing industry trends toward inclusivity and specific steps organizations should consider when changing terminology, including changes to internal processes and the importance of stakeholder input. During the second case study, members of AUVSI’s Florida chapter leadership team discussed how we can foster diversity within our community. Speakers included Eric Schwartz, Manager, Technology & Innovation, Florida Power and Light, and AUVSI Florida chapter leaders Chris Todd, Ty Rozier, and Andy Jaques, who launched a Diversity and Inclusion Committee earlier this year. Panelists discussed how they are working to introduce uncrewed and automated technologies to new communities in accessible ways, including by pursuing partnerships with local HBCUs and supporting STEM education. They also discussed best practices for organizations that want to leverage the right people to advance DEI initiatives. Finally, Sherrilene Classen, Professor and Chair, University of Florida, Department of Occupational Therapy, presented her research findings on how autonomous vehicles can be designed to support populations with limited mobility and how uncrewed systems can be equitably integrated into society. She encouraged attendees to consider availability, acceptability, adaptability, and affordability of their systems and roll-out plans and to consider design issues beyond hardware, including perception. Finally, she urged the entire industry to do more to ensure that people with limited mobility have opportunities to provide feedback. AUVSI’s DE&I Advisory Group is committed to addressing diversity, equity and inclusion in an intentional manner with the association members’ support. As a convening of companies and individuals, the changes AUVSI is making reflect a broader industry trend toward bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints to make collective progress.