How to Market the Sweep Scout Reconnaissance Robot

Hello, my name in Chris Loera and in this instructable I will be showing you the process of marketing a product you've created. In order to do so I will be walking you through the creation of my low cost military reconnaissance robot, called the Sweep Scout, and a few simple steps on how to market it.

Supplies

Before you can market your product you will first have to create your product. And to do that you will need to gather the materials and supplies you will use to create it. You will also need to consider the features you want your product to have when gathering your supplies. For my Sweep Scout I used an iRobot Create, a door and window sensor, adhesive strips, a round security camera (which has since been switched out for a Wansview security camera), and a tv remote. In order to market the product, I used ChatGPT to help edit my product images.

Step 1: Creating the Product

Once you have all the supplies you're using gathered, you can begin actually making your product. To create the Sweep Scout I began by taking the base iRobot, chosen for its mobility, wheels, and existing motor system, and adding a repurposed 360-degree view camera to the center. I then attached the door sensor to the front of the robot allowing it motion sensing capabilities. Finally I used a recycled plastic bracket to make a lightweight debris cleaning arm.

Step 2: Setting the Price

When setting the price for the Sweep Scout Recon Robot I considered two things, the cost of production and the value my product provided. Being that I used recycled components, the material costs are considerably low for this type of product with the total price of the supplies needed coming out to $310. With this in mind I decided to use the markup pricing method with a markup of 30% of the cost, which is my desired return on sales. To calculate this I used the formula: retail price=cost of production(310)/1-.desired return on sales(.30) which came out 442.86. For convenience I decided to round this up to $445 which is where I set my price.

Step 3: Choosing the Place (distribution)

Because my product is intended for Military use the distribution pathway is very different from normal consumer products. Instead of selling through stores, Sweep Scout is meant to enter the military supply chain through existing contractors who already support U.S. military bases. One option for distribution is selling directly to companies that already hold military contracts. Companies like Lockheed Martin, KBR, and Cobham are responsible for constantly supplying bases with equipment. By becoming a vendor for these companies the Sweep Scout can be purchased in bulk batches and supplied to many different bases without the need for me to score a government contract myself. This also leaves the door open to sell to government agencies, local law enforcement, university ROTC programs, and private security firms. In order to distribute to these smaller buyers I can establish a direct website for my company, continuously send outreach emails, and take my product to trade shows and technology fairs. .

Step 4: Crafting the Promotion

When promoting your product it is important that you understand your target audience. For my first form of promotion I wrote a script for a 30 second radio ad. The ad cuts right to the chase addressing a concern the audience may have as well as the product that solves said concern and the major features of the product. It quickly and effectively promotes the product ending off with our slogan and website.

The second form of promotion I decided to go with was a catalog/magazine ad. Being that I still can sell to non-military buyers magazines and catalogs may be a good way to reach other potential customers. The ad clearly states the product name as well as the product. A website link is also provided so that people interested in the product can learn more.

My last promotion was a billboard advertisement. The product name is large and bold ensuring it will stick out but is still serious and sticks with the militaristic theme. The company name and slogan are also included, as well as a website link, so that similarly to the magazine ad, people who are interested have a way to contact the company and learn more about the product.