Data-Centric AI in Multi Domain Awareness
ID: SF24B-T004Type: Phase I
Overview

Topic

Data-Centric AI in Multi Domain Awareness

Agency

Department of DefenseN/A

Program

Type: STTRPhase: Phase IYear: 2024
Timeline
  1. 1
    Release Apr 17, 2024 12:00 AM
  2. 2
    Open May 15, 2024 12:00 AM
  3. 3
    Next Submission Due Jun 12, 2024 12:00 AM
  4. 4
    Close Jun 12, 2024 12:00 AM
Description

The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program. The specific topic of the solicitation is "Data-Centric AI in Multi Domain Awareness" and is under the branch of the Air Force. The objective of this topic is to develop, test, and demonstrate a data-centric AI solution for processing Multi Domain Awareness data and identify the potential negative effects of insufficient training data in automated processing of multi-domain data streams. The technology falls under the Trusted AI and Autonomy critical technology area. The awardee(s) will develop data-driven methods to drive the development and testing of an ontology of automated alerts and develop foundational mathematical solutions to enable these mappings. The project will involve developing a supervised learning approach combining feedback from experts in space domain awareness with Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). The project will be conducted in two phases, with Phase I focusing on conceiving, developing, and demonstrating multiple methods for automated processing of SDA data, and Phase II extending these methods to fuse multiple modalities and evaluate non-ideal conclusions. The awardee(s) will also develop a strategy for transitioning the prototype capabilities based on operational requirements. The project duration is not specified, and the funding specifics can be found on the solicitation agency's website.

Files
No associated files provided.
Similar Opportunities
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Advanced Capability Development Open Topic
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Advanced Capability Development Open Topic. The Space Development Agency (SDA) is looking for novel architecture concepts, systems, technologies, and capabilities that enable leap-ahead improvements for future tranches of currently planned PWSA capability layers or address emerging warfighter needs. The research areas include trusted AI and autonomy, advanced computing and software, integrated sensing and cyber, hypersonics, microelectronics, integrated network systems-of-systems, space technology, renewable energy generation and storage, advanced infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. The solicitation is open for Phase II proposals only, and proposers must demonstrate the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of their projects. The research will support the development of the PWSA, a resilient military sensing and data transport capability in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The solicitation provides specific themes and focus areas for potential deliverables, such as integrating commercial sensing to the transport layer, developing optical inter-satellite link (OISL) technology, advancing cyber and networking capabilities, and increasing power for spacecraft bus. The Phase III applications of the research include improving low Earth orbit communication systems and space-based processing for effective distribution of sensor data. The proposal submission deadline is March 31, 2025. For more information and to access the proposal template, visit the DOD SBIR website.
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML) Focused Open Topic
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for an Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Focused Open Topic. The purpose of this open topic is to bring potentially valuable small business innovations to the Army and expand the relevance of the Army SBIR program to firms who do not normally compete for SBIR awards. The topic accepts both Phase I and Direct to Phase II submissions. Phase I proposals are accepted for a cost up to $250,000 for a 6-month period of performance, while Direct to Phase II proposals are accepted for a cost up to $2,000,000 for a 24-month period of performance. The research areas of focus include synthetic data generation, data validation and verification, AI risk mitigation, large language models, retrieval augmented generation, and collaborative AI technologies. Phase I submissions require a 5-page technical volume, an 8-slide commercialization plan, and a statement of work outlining deliverables. Phase II submissions require a 10-page technical volume, a 5-page feasibility documentation, an 8-slide commercialization plan, and a statement of work. During Phase II, firms must produce prototype solutions that are practical and feasible to operate in edge and austere environments. Phase III focuses on the maturation of the technology to TRL 6/7 and the production of prototypes to support further development and commercialization. The Army will evaluate each product in a realistic field environment and provide solutions to stakeholders for further evaluation. The submission deadline is March 31, 2025. For more information, visit the [solicitation link](https://www.sbir.gov/node/2651299).
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Robust Computer Vision for Better Object Detection with Limited Training Data
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the topic "Robust Computer Vision for Better Object Detection with Limited Training Data" as part of their SBIR 24.4 Annual solicitation. The goal of this topic is to experiment with innovative AI/ML approaches to object identification and imagery scene analysis. The increasing availability of digital imagery requires automated methods to process and analyze vast amounts of multi-modal data efficiently. One critical application is the identification of objects of interest (OoI) within imagery data or the scene generated by the imagery, which can provide valuable insights and facilitate decision-making processes in various fields such as military intelligence, environmental monitoring, transportation management, and security surveillance. The solicitation is open for Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposals with a cost of up to $2,000,000 for an 18-month period of performance. Proposers interested in submitting a DP2 proposal must provide documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility equivalent to a Phase I project has been met. The focus of this SBIR topic is robust AI/ML object detection techniques for computer vision that do not rely on extensive availability of labeled training data. The use of foundational knowledge and methods, such as handcrafted features, evolutionary algorithms, and newer techniques based on transformers, can be leveraged for this topic without requiring a feasibility study. During DP2, firms should develop and implement novel or hybrid AI/ML models for object detection that do not rely on extensive training data and train models in Project Linchpin's AI Unclassified Operations Environment using Linchpin data for DOD use cases. The Phase III dual-use applications include autonomy, retail, public safety, traffic management, enhanced security, and agriculture. Computer vision solutions in the private sector encompass a wide range of applications, and companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft offer cloud-based object detection and recognition services. The solicitation is open until March 31, 2025. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit the DOD SBIR website: [link](https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/).
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - xTechScalable AI 2
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the xTechScalable AI 2 topic. This solicitation focuses on two main areas: 1. Scalable Tools for Automated AI Risk Management and Algorithmic Analysis: The Army is looking for automated tools to evaluate and mitigate risk against an AI Risk Management Framework (RMF) to ensure trusted and validated AI models. The tools should be able to evaluate multiple dimensions of AI risk, classify and quantify AI risk, and propose mitigation options. The Army is particularly interested in tools that can accept risk-related inputs from multiple data sources and modalities and have standardized evaluation methods and mitigation strategies. 2. Scalable Techniques for Robust Testing and Evaluation (T&E) of AI Operations Pipelines: The Army needs a robust and automated T&E approach for AI Operations Pipelines. This includes evaluating data integrity, data labeling methodologies, and model training. The Army is interested in tools that can identify and evaluate data integrity, assess the quality and accuracy of labels applied to training datasets, and evaluate model performance in terms of resource consumption, robustness, scalability, and privacy and security. The Phase I proposals can receive up to $250,000 for a 6-month period, while Direct to Phase II proposals can receive up to $2,000,000 for an 18-month period. Phase II involves producing prototype solutions that will be evaluated by soldiers, and Phase III focuses on maturing the technology and producing prototypes for further development and commercialization. The xTechScalable AI 2 prize competition will be used to identify small businesses eligible to submit proposals under this topic. The full solicitation can be found at [this link](https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/).
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - A/I Enabled ARP, Select, and Monitor
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the topic "A/I Enabled ARP, Select, and Monitor" as part of its SBIR program. The objective of this solicitation is to develop and deliver an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled system to modernize and automate the Army's acquisition process, starting with the development of an Acquisition Requirements Package (ARP). The proposed system aims to alleviate current problems in the Army acquisition community, such as inconsistent results, lengthy and inefficient ARP development, and limited tools available to the workforce. The technology will use AI/ML to assist program managers in building ARP, conducting source selection activities, and monitoring contracts post-award. The Phase I of this project is only accepting Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposals with a cost of up to $2,000,000 for a 24-month period of performance. The Phase II effort is expected to deliver a basic AI capability to guide ARP development, with potential for expansion to other types of acquisitions. The Phase III dual-use applications include the use of Contract Management Software (CMS) technologies in various sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail, IT and telecom, transportation and logistics, government, and financial services. The deadline for proposal submission is March 31, 2025. For more information, visit the solicitation agency's website [here](https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/).