FLOATS - Floating and Loitering Ocean Advanced Technology Sensing
ID: SF242-D026Type: BOTH
Overview

Topic

FLOATS - Floating and Loitering Ocean Advanced Technology Sensing

Agency

Department of DefenseN/A

Program

Type: SBIRPhase: BOTHYear: 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 topic "FLOATS - Floating and Loitering Ocean Advanced Technology Sensing" as part of their SBIR 24.2 Annual solicitation. The Air Force is specifically interested in low-cost persistent grid sensors technologies that can provide atmospheric and maritime research data from the surface down to 50 meters. The main objective is to develop new ISR capabilities that are easy to deploy, operate, and recover, while being inexpensive and quick to manufacture. These capabilities should persist in the same geography for weeks or months, integrate into existing data processing architectures, and be difficult to detect and seize by adversaries. The deliverables for this project will include sub-scale experiments, tests, and demonstrations that advance operational imperatives. Phase I awards will not be made for this topic, as it is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic. Phase II efforts will focus on conducting sub-scale experiments and providing test articles for further testing and demonstration. Phase III will involve upgrading analysis, modeling and simulation, test and evaluation results, and providing mature prototypes of system concepts. The goal of Phase III is to transition the technology and system concepts to commercial applications, expanding mission capability for both governmental and civilian users. The deadline for proposal submission is June 12, 2024. For more information, visit the solicitation agency's website at [solicitation_agency_url].

Files
No associated files provided.
Similar Opportunities
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Advanced Enabling High-Speed Technologies
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the topic of "Advanced Enabling High-Speed Technologies" in their SBIR 24.4 Annual solicitation. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is specifically interested in technologies related to additive manufacturing techniques, materials, propulsion combined cycles, and hot structures. They are also looking for advancements in the understanding and characterization of novel fluid dynamics that enhance propulsion performance. The objective is to achieve coherence between a cooperating set of commodity devices, resulting in increased thrust to weight, fuel efficiencies, and propellant mass fractions. This solicitation is open for Phase II proposals only, and Phase I proposals will not be accepted or reviewed. Phase II will involve designing and evaluating enabling technologies at the system and subsystem level, as well as advancing modeling and simulation tools. Physical hardware proposals should include development, installation, integration, demonstration, and/or test and evaluation of the proposed prototype system. Software or advanced tool development proposals should have a development approach anchored in the physics of the problem and ways to validate the software against existing test data. The Phase II effort consists of a base period of 12 months and an option period of 12 months. Phase III of this project will focus on transition and commercialization of the developed technologies. The proposer is required to obtain funding from private sector or non-SBIR Government sources to develop the prototype software into a viable product or non-R&D service for sale in military or private sector markets. The technologies developed under this topic will have applications in both commercial and military sectors, including commercial transportation, high-speed delivery, and responsiveness to fluidic environments. For more information and to submit proposals, interested parties can visit the DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual topic page on the SBIR website (https://www.sbir.gov/node/2492697). The solicitation is currently open, and the application due date is March 31, 2025.
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - NAVSEA Open Topic for Sustainment and Obsolescence
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the NAVSEA Open Topic for Sustainment and Obsolescence. The objective is to address Navy needs regarding sustainment and obsolescence. NAVSEA is looking for existing technology demonstration platforms, prototypes, and commercial products that can quickly and reliably get Navy assets back in the field. The focus areas for potential projects include material quality, AI/ML generated work instructions, additive manufacturing advancements, cold spray technology advancements, shipyard and maintenance operational logistics improvements, rapid manufacturing for urgent part obsolescence needs, and digital twins for system lifecycle sustainability and design evolution. The Phase I awards for this topic will have a period of performance of four months and a cost not to exceed $75,000. Phase I feasibility will describe the proposed technology, improvements to existing capabilities, and impacts to current logistics. Phase II will involve developing a functional prototype, a transition plan, and further commercialization. The Phase II effort will be specific to each project. The technology developed through this program will have dual-use applications and can be applied commercially. The solicitation is open until March 31, 2025. For more information, visit the [solicitation link](https://www.sbir.gov/node/2652283).
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Lightweight Longwave Bolometer Sensor Components
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the topic "Lightweight Longwave Bolometer Sensor Components" as part of the SBIR program. The objective of this topic is to develop components that enable low size, weight, and power (SWAP) thermal bolometer-type longwave thermal sensor payloads. These components should have equal or better performance than current commercial offerings while driving down SWAP. The components of interest include lens, focal plane, and readout and processing embedded hardware. The components should be ready for integration into a camera module by the end of Phase II. Thermal longwave infrared (LWIR) capabilities are crucial for many Army applications, especially for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). However, the size, power, and weight constraints often limit the performance of these sensors. This topic aims to develop components that reduce the weight of thermal payloads while increasing their capabilities and keeping unit costs low. The project will have a Phase I and Phase II, with Phase I proposals accepting a cost of up to $250,000 for a 6-month period of performance. During Phase I, firms should design a proposed component with stakeholder input, analyze the SWAP-C impact of the component, and discuss how it will support the objective sensor payload. Phase II will involve completing the component design, fabricating, testing, and characterizing the component for integration into a lightweight sensor payload. Firms will also refine the design, define relevant interfaces, and lay out a high-level plan for integration. The potential applications of this research include smartphone camera augmentation, UAV camera augmentation, home security systems, and climate tech development. The project references academic research on bolometer manufacturing methods and the efficacy of leveraging colloidal quantum dots (QDs) for IR light sensing. Military contractors have also contributed to the research in the LWIR sensor and bolometer manufacturing spaces. For more information and to submit proposals, visit the DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual solicitation notice on grants.gov or the DOD SBIR/STTR Opportunities page. The open date for proposals is October 3, 2023, and the close date is March 31, 2025.
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Development of an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Passive Detection, Tracking, and Identification System for Ground Vehicles.
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the development of an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Passive Detection, Tracking, and Identification System for Ground Vehicles. The goal of this Army Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) topic is to develop a passive sensor system capable of detecting, tracking, and identifying single and multiple drones threatening ground vehicles. The system should have a range of up to 2km and provide full hemispherical coverage. It should also include a soldier user interface control panel and the ability to alert at least one operator. The system should be able to operate in wooded/dense environments or large metropolitan areas and be installable on tactical and combat ground vehicles, including Army watercraft. In Phase I, the technical feasibility of passive sensors for drone detection will be determined through computer simulations. The possibility of using passive electromagnetic acoustic, optical, and other innovative sensing for processing multiple drone signatures will be demonstrated. The classification of drone signatures using these passive sensor systems will also be explored. In Phase II, the solution to achieve the capabilities outlined in Phase I will be developed. Optimum materials for the development of passive low-power consumption sensors for UAS detection, tracking, and identification will be identified. Principles of building networks of passive sensors that utilize fast processing capabilities will be developed, along with learning algorithms for drone identification. The system will be evaluated for compliance with the GVSC owned vehicle base kit in the GVSC Vehicle Protection Integration Lab (VPIL). A prototype system will be delivered to GVSC for evaluation and demonstration. Phase III will focus on expanding the capabilities of the solution to simulate different environments and conditions, demonstrating its applicability for municipal security, law enforcement, and commercial vehicles. The solicitation is open until March 31, 2025. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit the DOD SBIR website at [solicitation_agency_url].
DOD SBIR 24.4 Annual - Open Topic for Persistent Experimentation
Active
Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for an open topic on persistent experimentation. The U.S. Army, under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), is specifically interested in novel, disruptive concepts and technology solutions with dual-use capabilities. The goal is to address the Army's current needs and future concepts by experimenting, refining, and advancing technology solutions in operationally relevant environments. The Army encourages participation in its persistent experimentation events to mature and test the technology. Proposals should align with specific experimentation events and demonstrate potential for commercial applications. The phase I of the project will only accept Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposals, which should provide documentation of scientific and technical merit, feasibility, and potential commercial applications. DP2 awardees are expected to produce a prototype solution ready for field demonstration and deliver a technology transition and commercialization plan. Phase III focuses on the maturation of the technology to TRL 6/7 and further development and commercialization. The keywords for this solicitation include Human-Machine Integration (HMI), autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), logistics, ground systems, air systems, robotics, sensors, and electromagnetic warfare (EW). The solicitation is open until March 31, 2025. For more information, visit the [solicitation link](https://www.sbir.gov/node/2603059).