DARPA Strategic Technology Office CfP
Introduction
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Strategic Technology
Office (STO) is soliciting proposals whose implementation would enable revolutionary
advances in the following broad areas:
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Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems;
Strategic and Tactical Networks;
Information Assurance;
Countering Underground Facilities;
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense;
Small Unit Operations;
Maritime Operations;
Core Strategic Technologies.
Specific topics of interest within these broad categories are listed below.
Budget and Duration
Projects can be for up to 5 years.
Monetary budget guidelines are not provided, but can be discussed with the Program
Manager if an Abstract is invited.
Submission Procedure
1. Executive Summaries - one page (pre-proposal);
2. Proposal Abstract (if invited) – up to 6 pages
3. Full Proposal (if invited) At each stage submission must be made by the Research Liaison Section electronically on your
behalf via www.grants.gov .
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Deadline
The call if officially open until December 2008, but available funds are reduced as
projects are approved.
Contacts at Office of Sponsored Research
Research Liaison Section
Dori Schneider Tel: 647 7748
email: dorisch@bgu.ac.il
Budget Section
Daniel Rosenthal
Bella Braitstein
Tel: 647 2442
Tel: 647 2439
email: danros@bgu.ac.il
email: belabr@bgu.ac.il
Topic areas of specific interest to DARPA Strategic Technology Office
I. Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems
a. Active damping and smart materials for precision control of space
structures
b. Concepts for space systems, sensors, structures, components and materials
c. Concepts supporting affordable access – and thus proliferation – of highperformance space sensors and systems
d. Extremely large space apertures and structures, including large space
structures that have extremely small payload volumes (e.g., rigidized
inflatables, isogrid composites, etc.)
e. Global tailored tactical surveillance
f. High performance microsat and picosat systems
g. Innovative sensor systems for space applications including extremely
large, lightweight and stowable aperture technologies
h. Large distributed array remote sensing systems, both space-based and
ground-based, for space object location and identification
i. Lightweight and low-mass active/passive membranes
j. Next generation power generation systems, including electrodynamic and
momentum tethers, and advanced solar systems
k. Next generation space technologies and systems
l. Novel space-based sensor modalities and systems
m. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep subcanopy imaging
n. Remote optical sensing technologies
o. Technologies supporting next-generation tactical space operations,
including rapid access, space situational awareness, space, robust anti-jam
SATCOM, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches
p. Wide-area urban tracking architectures
II. Strategic and Tactical Networks
a. 100 Gbps free space optical communication system
b. Applications, architecture, control and management, and hardware
systems for multi-terabit, fiber-optic core, edge, and mobile-platform
networks
c. Approaches to interconnect wave-division multiplexed backbone
communications infrastructures with IP-based metropolitan networks (may
include route discovery/distribution and new addressing schemes)
d. Approaches to make tactical networks auto-configuring for both voice and
data with the goal of reducing the manpower requirements (may include
the complete replacement of IP as the underlying data protocol)
e. Hybrid passive/active RADAR systems that are agile over available
bandwidth
f. Information and communication technologies to enable "power to the
edge" for air, land, space, and maritime systems
g. Innovative urban sensing systems and networked architectures
h. Miniature, low power sensors and networks
i. Network centric warfare, including novel approaches to the development,
implementation, and control of networked weapons systems
j. Network storage and caching protocols for reducing long-haul
communications loads
k. New approaches to self-forming, wireless, mesh networks of over 10,000
devices with high throughput (at least 50 Mbps across the network
between two endpoints). This may include work on multiple frequencies,
graph partitioning, and subnet allocations.
l. Novel approaches for the development, implementation, and control of
heterogeneous networks of human decision makers and human-operated or
autonomous sensors and weapons
m. Novel approaches that enable mission-centric network-enabled real-time
service-oriented architectures (SOA). Problems of interest include, but are
not restricted to, dynamic optimization of the allocation of network
services to the tactical edge based on volatile mission objectives, dynamic
SOA application architecture, automated service-oriented collaborative
verification and validation, and dynamic instantiation and allocation of
mobile ad hoc networking technologies that optimize the implementation
of mission-oriented services.
n. Novel approaches to effect collaboration among human decision makers
in heterogeneous, coalition environments
o. Novel approaches to monitor, visualize and recommend alternative
courses of action in the management and defense of massive,
heterogeneous wide-area networks (5 million nodes)
p. Novel still-image and video wireless transport communications
technology
q. Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic level
distributed operations
r. Reconfigurable transceiver analog front end technology
s.
Robust wireless military communication network architecture and system
technology to enable graceful degradation under cross-layer fixes
t. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept)
u. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications
devices
v. Wideband THz communications and networking system technology
III. Information Assurance
a. Autonomous protection or reconstitution of large network environments
from cyber attacks
b. Computer forensic and software protection technologies
c. Developing secure systems from untrusted components
d. High-speed (40 Gbps to 100 Tbps) optical encryption systems that
function correctly with fiber amplified cable systems
e. Low-cost military grade encryption mechanisms/devices
f. Novel approaches to derive confidence of identity of remote information,
users, processes, and devices in dynamic, untrusted, networked
environments
g. Novel approaches to measure, compare, and assess alternative
information operations tools and effects
h. Novel approaches to quantify binary code security
i. Novel methods to deter cyber adversaries
j. Novel microprocessor/computing architectures to support secure
computing
k. Trustworthy computing in mobile environments
l. Wide area network firewalls and proxies, capable of dealing with
asymmetric data flows and speeds in excess of 5 Gbps
IV.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
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i.
j.
k.
l.
Counter Underground Facilities
Close-in and standoff sensor concepts
Determining structural layout or locations of specific vulnerabilities
Development and demonstration of technologies to find unknown
facilities, on both strategic and tactical timescales
Identification of facility function
Monitoring pace of activity
Enhancing post-attack bomb damage assessment (BDA)
Exploitation algorithms and signal processing
Exploitation of novel observables or substantially improved methods of
detecting/analyzing observables, including active source methods
Improved communications across rugged terrain among assets, and for
exfiltration uplinks
Improved deployable ground and airborne sensors
New methods for characterizing activities associated with tunnels and
caves, to include small and unimproved sites, in both urban and rural areas
New methods for sensor and system modeling
V. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense
a. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and environmental sensors
and deconflict
b. Defense against chemical, biological, and radiological weapons
c. Sensing approaches for material identification
d. Collection technology for atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine samples
e. Automated chemical analysis of trace materials
VI.
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b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
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Small Unit Operations
Advanced explosives for special operations
Advanced sighting systems for tactical operations
Detection of indirectly fired mortars and RPGs
Direction finding capabilities for urban applications
GPS-free guidance and navigation
Low cost (<$100) expendable GPS sensors
Low cost standoff concealed weapons detection
Miniature, low power sensors and networks
Non-acoustic bullet detection and tracking technology
Noncooperative, low probability of detection (LPD) building interior
imaging systems
k. Non-line-of-sight designation and elimination of urban targets
l. Novel approaches for the development and implementation of irregular
warfare
m. Novel laser remote sensing, laser RADAR, LADAR, and LIDAR systems
concepts, techniques and enabling technologies
n. Novel methods for tracking, localization, and identification
o. Novel miniature, low cost RADAR system concepts
p. Novel precision navigation and real-time targeting systems concepts and
technologies
q. Novel still-image and video wireless transport communications
technology
r. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep subcanopy imaging
s. Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic level
distributed operations
t. Personal navigation and high precision targeting technology in GPSdenied and GPS-compromised environments
u. Positive detection of urban threats
v. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept)
w. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications
devices
x. Soldier survivability materials, systems, and devices
y. Tactical lighting and imaging devices and technologies (including both
visible and IR spectrum)
z. Tactical optical systems that aid and enhance the ability of the warfighter
aa. Technologies and systems for the detection of suspicious urban vehicles
bb. Underwater vision devices for high silt environment military divers
cc. Vehicle survivability materials, systems, and devices
dd. Wide-area urban tracking architectures
VII. Maritime Operations
a. High rate-range product underwater communications
b. Maritime surveillance systems and technologies
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d.
e.
f.
g.
Miniature, low power underwater (water column and bottom mounted)
sensors and networks
Novel approaches to significantly reduce the cost of undersea warfare,
without compromising capability
Novel underwater high-maneuverability propulsion system
Underwater vision devices for high-silt environment military divers
Unmanned long-duration, high-speed underwater vehicles
VIII. Core Strategic Technologies
a. Advanced 3D image processing, analysis, and feature extraction
approaches
b. Advanced electronic vision and situation awareness devices, algorithms,
and systems
c. Biofabrication processes for improved nanostructured devices and
materials
d. Biomimetic object-vision recognition
e. Innovative methods to visualize complex, self-organizing systems
f. Microelectronic systems comprising advanced system concepts coupling
electronics, sensors and actuators with micro-scale packaging and battery
technologies
g. Novel three-dimensional data visualization and projection methods
h. Power harvesting technologies and devices
i. Self assembly and/or manufacture techniques
j. Exploitation of human visual psychophysics for efficiently conveying or
hiding information
k. Materials and composites with spatially tunable elastic properties
l. Radiation damage to microelectronic systems
m. Long-range sensing of WMD development and deployment;
countermeasures