REQUEST FOR NOTICES OF INTENT TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS
Aligned Research Program of the UARC, 2011
Request for proposal abstracts. You are invited to submit a brief Notice of Intent (NOI) to
submit a proposal that describes the scientific objective, rationale, significance and strategy for
a research project. The award total for the year is approximately $750,000. We anticipate
making 2-4 awards in the range, $50,000-500,000. The period covered is September 15, 2010 to
September 15, 2011; follow-on funding is possible, depending on progress. Priority will be
given to research projects aligned with the NASA Ames mission that can be jump-started or
advanced significantly by such an award, leveraged with UC and NASA resources, or that might
provide the basis for acquiring more extensive support from other funding agencies, i.e., followon funding.
Aligned Research Program (ARP) mission. Funds from this program derive from an annual
assessment of task order research conducted through the UARC. The aim is to support
innovative, high-risk, and proof-of-concept research in the NASA Ames core competency areas
that generally include Aerospace Systems, Information Systems and Computer Science, Earth
Sciences, Space Sciences, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Fundamental Space Biology and
energy-related science.
ARP awards can be used for:
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Collaborative research efforts between UC and NASA Ames researchers
Graduate student or Post-Doc research stipends
Relevant travel
Research supplies
Purchase of equipment or instrumentation
Seeding/launching long-term studies
ARP awards are not appropriate for research that imposes restrictions on publications or export
control. ARP awards cannot be used for faculty summer salaries.
Research Priorities in 2010
Listed below are some research areas of special interest:
Space Science. There is broad interest in infusing planetary science with fundamental
science; exoplanet research (Kepler, transit and infrared photometry, integrative coronagraphy
for imaging planets); astronomical supercomputing, cosmological simulation and imaging, and
planetary dynamics; rocket design; asteroid research; robotic sensors for asteroids; Sofia (which
is due to fly later in the year); Mars, Venus and Titan climate modeling; dust, or opportunities in
laboratory astrophysics; planetary protection (from contamination and biomarking); and Mars
sample returns.
Earth Science. NASA Ames has been using sensors in aircraft and Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) to collect extensive data on a variety of environmental variables over land and
at the land/sea interface, e.g., data bearing on wildfire control in California, harmful algal blooms
in coastal waters, thermal fronts, snow cover, coastal hazards, water resources, and ice thickness
in the Antarctic and Arctic. This continues using sensors in aircraft and Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs). Research might address scientific questions using the collected data or
instrument development to enhance sensors or the use of sensor data. Research is encouraged
on: 1) Calibration and validation of airborne remote systems. Field measurements are needed of
absolute radiometric and spectral properties of NASA remote sensing systems – both airborne
and satellite – as they are key to constructing quantitative climate records and enabling multiscale environmental studies. 2) Data visualization and real-time data processing and
dissemination systems development. The development of the Airborne Science Sensor Network
and associated web portal are powerful tools for conducting climate investigations and managing
large multi-platform science campaigns. Extensive software development, to include the design
of advanced web applications and real-time data bases is required. 3) Remote sensing
applications demonstrations projects. Several new airborne systems are coming online, such as
oceanographic and atmospheric imagers, whose science applications need to be developed. 4)
Ecological forecasting.
Energy, materials, nanoscience. Research on energy storage conversion and transport,
energy efficiency, green renewable energy, alternative sources of energy, carbon-neutral
biofuels, fuel cells, and software development for monitoring and optimizing smart buildings are
relevant research topics. In particular, NASA Ames is constructing a new high-performance,
green, sustainable office building and is interested in research projects that will utilize it as a
testbed for this emerging technology of sustainable building control. Proposed research projects
must provide a save and timely reversion to the building's baseline control system functions and
not violate the warranty on any existing building products.
Information Systems. This category is broad and encompasses all aspects of
computational sciences research, and applications in other disciplines aligned with NASA goals.
Areas of interest include: supercomputing; design of the next generation of aircraft, with
improved aerodynamic efficiency, lower emissions, less fuel burn, and reduced noise; active
aeroelastic wing shape tailoring for actively controlling wing shape, aerodynamic performance
and flight control; robotic systems – especially those from biological systems - for increasing
capability, durability and enhanced packing for transport for surface operations or on space
structures; mining scientific data for systems health management, including prognostics,
diagnostics, and failure recovery; and increasing the robustness and reliability of mission related
software, through automated software analysis, verification and validation.
Aerospace. There is great interest in Aviation Pollutant Trade-offs. The challenges
presented by the relationship between aviation and the environment increases. Greenhouse gas
emissions, and contrail avoidance are concerns. Efforts to make civil aviation more
environmentally friendly requires knowledge the effect of environmental constraints on aircraft
in the system, their routings, and the emission of other pollutants under variable environmental
conditions. Related interest involves Green Aviation, which addresses reducing noise,
emissions and fuel burn. Research is needed for operating Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) in the
National Airspace System (NAS) to support a variety of earth science missions. Because of the
inherent need for flexibility in defining the flight plans for these missions, automation
technologies that allow routine access to the NAS are vitally important. Proposed research might
address (a) airborne based separation assurance and conflict resolution in class A airspace, (b)
adaptive mission planning including contingency terminal area operations, (c) associated
controller/operator procedures, and (d) electric aircraft.
Application Process. To apply for funding, submit an NOI (one-page limit) to me by 5 PM on
31 August 2010, describing the scientific objective, rationale, significance and strategy of the
research project. Specify the amount requested and how the money will be spent. List NASA
Ames, UARC staff, or any other collaborators, if applicable. Multi-PI proposals are encouraged
where appropriate, especially for the larger awards. Please use the attached NOI template.
Award Process. The UARC Research Council (URC) will downselect NOIs received by the
due date. Authors of selected NOIs will be requested to submit proposals with detailed budgets.
Proposals will be peer-reviewed. URC will decide on awards and awards will be announced by
30 October 2010.
Burney J. Le Boeuf
Director, Aligned Research Program of the UARC
Founding Member, UARC Research Council